with God

Pete Kersker - Jun 23, 2026

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him (Acts 12:5 NIV).

Simon Peter was in a very unsafe situation. He was thrown in jail by Herod, the Roman government leader in charge of the area where he lived. Herod had just executed James, the brother of John and Peter's friend. Herod planned to do the same with Peter after the Passover.

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. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists (Acts 12:6-7 NIV).

Herod's plans, however, were about to be thwarted (Proverbs 19:21). That's because Herod's plans did not match God's plans (Isaiah 55:9). Our Father in heaven had more ministry for Simon Peter to do.

Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him (Acts 12:8-10 NIV).

Sometimes we can find ourselves in a tough spot. It looks like everything is going wrong and we may even feel like everyone is against us. It's in those moments that we need to remember to draw near to our heavenly Father (James 4:8a). That's the safest place we can be (Psalm 31:19-20).

Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen" (Acts 12:11 NIV).

Have you ever been in a tough spot? Did you draw near to our Father in heaven?
How does God remind you that you can always come to Him, where it is safe?