and when he (king herod) had seized him (peter), he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him out to the people. [acts 12:4]
prison – a place of hope or despair
peter gets arrested by king herod shortly after the same king has killed his good friend and fellow apostle – james (the brother of john). the death of james probably rocked the tight community of Christ followers. james was 1 of the original 12, 1 of the intimate 3 that were close to Jesus, and a good friend of peter.
now peter gets arrested and from what the greater breadth of the story tells us in acts 12 – the king was going to put him to death as well – for he had seen how this pleased the jews.
peter was in prison …
not a place anyone wanted to be,
not a place anyone willingly went,
yet there in prison was peter – by God’s will, with God, being watched over by God.
prison was not pleasant.
prison was not a place to build street cred for peter.
prison was not a badge of accomplishment.
prison was an aspiration for any of Jesus’ followers.
yet there in prison was peter – by God’s will, with God, being watched over by God.
where are you today that no one really wants to be.
where are you in this season that no one longs to go.
yet there you are – by God’s will, with God, being watched over by God.
today –
you may not understand why you are where you are.
you may not understand where you are.
but you can be assured of this.
you are there – by God’s will, with God, being watched over by God.
child of the high King Jesus –
God’s will is not thwarted by your situation.
God is with you.
God is watching over you.
right now, in this moment – rejoice in this – and thank him!
“and behold, i am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Jesus [matthew 28:20]
~ john ryan