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“The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”  Acts 12:6
I wish I could say I wrote this, but it was penned by another: There is no softer pillow than the Sovereignty of God.

God is in control. But are we, as Christians, able to rest in this fact—truly rest? The Apostle Peter sure was. In Acts we read about the birth of the Church. It’s a great book, if you haven’t delved in—full of action, adventure, and miracles (and persecution and martyrdom). In fact, just after James (the brother of John, those “Sons of Thunder” and besties of Jesus), was put to death by Herod, Peter was arrested. I’ll let you read about his angelic-led escape and the shocked prayer warriors, but three words in the saga that speak volumes to us: “Peter was sleeping.”

Huh? I don’t even sleep when I’m worried about work stuff, so I’m confident that if I were in prison, chained between guards, knowing I was to die the next morning…well, sleep would certainly evade me.

Not Peter. He was sleeping like a baby. He knew what Jesus had accomplished on that cross. He knew he’d been forgiven for his many sins and failures. He’d experienced the power of the Holy Spirit promised him by the Risen Lord. He had no idea what dawn would bring. God had not promised him rescue—he believed his death was hours away. But he wasn’t planning a verbal plea for Herod to spare him. He wasn’t terrified of impending physical pain, should torture precede his death. And he certainly wasn’t afraid of what would happen to him on the other side of this life. He simply rested in the confidence of God’s Sovereignty.

As a Christian today, it is easy to toss and turn in bed with the tumult of the world swirling in our head. There is uncertainty (and plenty to fear) about the future, short- and long-term. But let me remind you (and myself) of a few Big Truths:

• We know what Jesus accomplished on that cross.
• We’ve been forgiven of our many sins and failures (past, present, and future).
• We have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit—the power that has saved and transformed us.

So, sisters, lay your head on the soft pillow of faith…and rest confidently in the Sovereignty of our great and awesome God.

“Lord, You are always in control, even when the world seems out of control. Help me rest in Your Sovereignty, regardless of my circumstances.”
For His Glory,

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life