Rest in God

https://odb.org/2025/12/19/still-sleeping

Acts 12:5–11 (NIV): 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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.”

Did the apostle Peter feel likewise after being thrown into prison (Acts 12:4)? He was likely to face execution, yet the usually impulsive disciple “was sleeping between two soldiers” (v. 6). The angel had to “[strike] Peter on the side” to wake him up (v. 7)—suggesting that he was completely calm and at peace. Was it because he knew his life was in God’s hands? Verses 9 and 11 suggest that it wouldn’t have mattered whether he was rescued or not; perhaps he recalled the assurance of salvation and glory that Jesus had given him (Matthew 19:28), as well as Christ’s call to simply “follow me” and not worry about what would happen to him (John 21:22). (Leslie Koh, Our Daily Bread 19th December 2025)

One of the things I learned from my recent battle with high blood glucose is that insulin resistance can be caused by stress. Of course the primary reason is an inactive lifestyle due to the body cells having been permeated by fatty deposits over time leading to resistance towards insulin. Consequently, the glucose in the blood are unable to enter the cells and thus remain high in the blood which may lead to numerous health complications if left untreated. Medication, coupled with exercise and resistance training as well as dietry restraints will thus break down those fatty deposits and bring back the natural balance.

Stress at work however is unavoidable in this modern world as work demands and deadlines will always be there. Some cope better than others but ultimately if stress leads to sickness like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood glucose (prediabetes or diabetes) or even mental illness, there is case for a change of job or the job environment. For us who are on the verge of retirement, we may want to consider early retirement.

From a spiritual standpoint, stress in life may be lessened if we rest in God. Like the case of Peter in jail, about to be sentenced and likely executed the next day, he slept like a baby in jail and in chains flanked by two guards! We always look at Peter’s story in Acts 12 as more of a supernatural rescue by God through an angel but often overlook the demeanour of Peter who faced certain death the next day. But actually I believe if we dwell deeper into the annals of recorded history, we will find that all martyrs of God are at peace when thrown into the arena of the beasts or just plain executed. They are at peace because they are 100% certain that Christ will be at the other side to welcome them when they cross over into life after death.

This morning, I believe, that the calmness of Peter in facing possible death is a lesson for us on how to deal with stress in life. Rest in the Lord. Trust in Him. For we know that God will make all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Our lives are no longer ours when we accept Christ. “To die is gain but to live is Christ” is Paul’s rallying cry.

Have a good weekend ahead, everyone! Rest in the peace of God and may He give us peace that’s beyond our understanding! Amen!