Shhh He's sleeping ...

Acts 12. Peter is in prison, about to be tried and most likely executed the next day, and guess what? He was soundly sleeping. I can’t help but picture Peter—the guy I’ve rolled my eyes at so many times while reading through his moments with Jesus. His temper, his selfishness, that loud, booming personality always trying to be front and center in everything. But here he is, resigned to the fact that he’s going to die, so ready that he’s sleeping while chained between two guards.

I mean, I can't even imagine. I’d be up all night in a panic, wondering what was going to happen, when, and how it’d all go down. I’d probably be grieving for James, who had just been killed for his faith and whose death motivated King Herod to arrest me too. Maybe I’d try singing really loud like Paul and Silas, hoping for a miracle. Or I’d be crying, thinking about the times I spent with Jesus and all we’d done together. Maybe I’d be rehearsing my final words or reflecting on people I’d leave behind.

But nope. Peter? He’s sleeping. And here’s a funny thought: Peter also fell asleep in the garden when Jesus asked him to stay awake and pray—so maybe the guy just had a sleeping problem! (This is exactly why I love studying the Bible—I try to picture what it was really like.)

Anyway, back to Peter. The night before his execution—a public event designed to make a statement—he’s sleeping so deeply that an angel has to wake him up. And instead of the usual angelic greeting, “Fear not,” the angel tells Peter, “Hurry! Get up.” He tells him to get dressed and put on his shoes. The chains fall off, and Peter follows along, still thinking it’s all just a wild dream. He walks through the prison, past the gates, and into the street, not fully realizing what’s happening. Then suddenly, the angel leaves, and Peter is standing there—alone in the middle of the night, in the middle of the street—finally realizing, This isn’t a dream.

When I know someone going through a hard time—when life throws them a curveball, and their world feels like it’s crashing down—I pray that God gives them peace that surpasses all understanding. A peace that makes no sense in the middle of their situation. And I think about Peter. He had that peace. He wasn’t anxious, pacing the floor, or running through every possible outcome in his mind. He was sleeping. Soundly.

How? How did he do that? My trials are nowhere near as intense as facing execution for my faith—though I know life throws us all some really hard stuff. But I believe Peter could sleep because he had experienced the faithfulness of God, over and over again. He had walked with Jesus. He was forgiven by Him. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he witnessed miracles happening when he spoke.

Was Peter someone extraordinary? Not really. He was a lot like us. But he knew without a doubt that God is faithful. That knowledge—the kind that comes from lived experience—replaces worry, stress, and sleepless nights.

Do you know that God is faithful? How has He shown His faithfulness to you throughout your life? If you’re a believer, you should have story after story of His faithfulness. But if you don’t… maybe you don’t really know Him yet.

Get to know Him. He wants you to have peace in every circumstance. He wants to give you rest.

Message me if you want to learn more.