Trust

The story of Peter’s miraculous escape from prison in Acts 12, while people were earnestly praying for him, offers several powerful insights into the concept of trust – both God’s trustworthiness and our trust in Him.
Here’s how we can use the word “trust” in that situation:
1. The Church’s Trust in God’s Power and Willingness to Act:
* Trust in Prayer: “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5). The believers, despite James having just been executed, didn’t give up hope. They trusted that God heard their prayers and had the power to intervene, even in an seemingly impossible situation (Peter chained between two guards, with sentries, and an iron gate). Their continued, fervent prayer demonstrated their trust in the efficacy of prayer and in God’s responsiveness.
* Trust in God’s Sovereignty: They trusted that God was still in control, even when human authorities (Herod) were persecuting them. They believed His plan was greater than Herod’s.
2. Peter’s Trust in God’s Protection (even in the midst of danger):
* Trust to Sleep Peacefully: “The very night before Herod was to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains…” (Acts 12:6). Peter was facing certain death the next day, yet he was sleeping soundly. This speaks volumes about his trust in God’s care and his ability to surrender his fate to God. He wasn’t consumed by anxiety or fear, but rested in the knowledge that God was with him, regardless of the outcome.
* Trust in Obedience to the Angel: When the angel appeared, Peter didn’t question or hesitate. He promptly obeyed the instructions to “Get up quickly!”, “Put on your clothes and sandals,” and “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me” (Acts 12:7-8). This demonstrates Peter’s immediate trust and obedience to God’s messenger, even when he thought he was seeing a vision. He simply followed without fully understanding.
3. The Lack of Immediate Trust (and the subsequent growth of trust) by the Praying Community:
* Initial Disbelief/Lack of Trust in the Answer: When Rhoda, the servant girl, announced that Peter was at the door, the others replied, “You are out of your mind!” (Acts 12:15). They were praying for his release, yet when the answer came in an unexpected, miraculous way, they had trouble believing it. This highlights that while they trusted God could answer, their trust in how God would answer (and their expectation of a miracle) was perhaps less developed than their desire for one.
* Astonishment and Renewed Trust: “But Peter kept on knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished” (Acts 12:16). Their astonishment eventually turned into awe and a deep reinforcement of their trust in God’s miraculous power when they saw Peter standing there alive. This experience undoubtedly deepened their collective and individual trust in God’s ability to do the impossible.
In summary, the Acts 12 prison escape story shows us:
* The power of collective trust in prayer: The church’s persistent prayers, born out of trust, were instrumental.
* The peace that comes from personal trust in God: Peter’s calm demeanor reflected his deep reliance on God.
* That God often works in ways that surpass our expectations: We might pray with trust, but sometimes the answer is so miraculous that it challenges our limited understanding of how God might act, further expanding our trust in His boundless power.
It’s a beautiful example of how trust isn’t always perfect or unwavering, but God honors sincere faith and uses even our moments of doubt to strengthen our trust in Him.