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Read: Acts 4:1-31
Listen: Acts 4

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Peter and John meet a lame beggar outside the temple. Peter heals him in Jesus’s name. Many see the man jumping and praising God for this miracle. The crowd is astonished. Peter and John testify to those witnesses about Jesus’s truth. Threatened by what they hear, the religious leaders throw them in jail. The same religious leaders who had Jesus killed question Peter and John.. They could sentence Peter and John to a similar end. Threats are hurled. Jesus trained them for a moment like this. He promised that the Holy Spirit would provide the right words to say when they are arrested (Matthew 10:19-20). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they refuse to stop testifying and healing in the name of Jesus.

We can courageously face trials knowing that God will meet us there. The same Holy Spirit who strengthened the apostles is alive in believers today. We are not promised that everything will go right. Life is like a minefield. We don’t know when pain will come. Sudden loss, job insecurity, loneliness, sickness and broken relationships meet us unexpectedly, but we can hold onto one thing. When we are afraid, we live with the confidence that God meets us there. Confidence in God’s presence gives us the courage to face our daily trials.

TODAY: Acknowledge a situation in which you need to trust God. Pray with open hands, “Father, I am facing ___________ and I don’t know what the future holds. I trust you to meet me there, in the midst of my fear and uncertainty. Help me to see your goodness and feel your peace, no matter the outcome.”