Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
Acts 12:5-6
Peter was in jail for his faith in Christ. There was no imaginable escape from a trial and probably a speedy execution. Yet Peter was asleep. We mentioned last time that while anxiety is real and frequently overtakes believers, and while God uses our anxiety to draw us to Himself, He draws us that we might experience His peace.
We gave three passages to prayerfully meditate on when experiencing anxiety. Let me unpack the second of those three passages a bit.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Note first that the goal is to be “kept in perfect peace.” As has been said, the fact that believers do experience anxiety, and that God uses (ordains) our anxiety to draw us to Himself, does not mean that anxiety is in itself either good or God’s best for His children. Our Prince of peace would have us live in peace, if it were not for the ravages of sin.
Note secondly, that there are two related means by which we may experience His peace:
Our minds are to be “stayed” on the Lord. A stayed mind is one that not only thinks about the Lord when at church or during ones “quiet time,” but all the time. Of course God hasn’t called us to sit quietly meditating on Him to the neglect of our other God-ordained responsibilities. Rather we must aim to, and train yourselves to incorporate thoughts of God in all things at all times. This requires intentionality and practice. Here is where to start: Whenever you are aware that God is not in your thoughts, ask for His forgiveness and continue doing what you are doing, with an awareness of His presence. In time, this will become increasingly more second nature.
We are called to “trust in Him.” And again, not just while reading the Bible and praying, or when circumstances and feelings are bright and cheery. Trust is most necessary when circumstances and feelings are contrary. When assailed by anxiety, regardless of how you feel, “counsel yourself” with the truth that as a child of God, He loves you (Romans 8:35-39, Ephesians 3:17-20), and will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Set your mind on these things regardless of your circumstances or feelings.
The third passage next time…