Fearing tomorrow - Acts 12

Suggested Scripture Reading

Acts chapter 12

Verse for the Day

Acts 12.17 ‘He declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison’

Imagine that it’s time to go to bed and you are feeling really tired. You want to sleep but you can’t. Lots of things keep popping into your head. Maybe you are a bit worried about something! A new job, project or someone who is threatening you! Or maybe you are excited and can’t wait for the next day to come!

Jesus’ disciple, Peter, was fast asleep one night when an angel came to visit him. He was in such a deep sleep that the angel had had to hit him on his side to wake him up.

"Where am I?", Peter must have thought? "I remember now. I’m in prison. Herod, that wicked King, locked me up and says he is going to kill me! I was a bit scared until I remembered what Jesus had told me before He went back to heaven. He said I wouldn’t die until I was old. Wow, that helped me get to sleep last night. Jesus is in control and I trust Him".  

The angel was really in a hurry. “Quick” he said, “get up”. Suddenly Peter’s chains fell off. He had been handcuffed between two soldiers but all of a sudden he was free. When Peter looked one way, the soldier was asleep, and then the other way, he was asleep as well. Amazing!

While all this has been going on Peter’s friends has been praying for him. They prayed at breakfast, in the morning, at lunch, in the afternoon, in the evening and at supper. They even stayed up all night to pray as well. It seemed like Peter was never going to be freed! He had been in prison right over the Easter holidays (the Jews call it Passover). But God heard their prayers and Peter got home safe and sound.

God can answer your prayers and will help you sleep when you are scared as well.

Suggested Prayer

Dear Father, sometimes I am scared and I want to thank you for looking after me when this happens.