Hopeless situations.

I was reading one of my favorite books in the Bible today, Acts, and something stuck out at me. In this book the Apostles and Christians have been spreading the message around the world after Jesus rose from the dead and commanded them to

"Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all." Mark 16:15 MSG

People have been coming to God, amazing miracles have been happening, and lives were being transformed. Naturally, there were people who hated what God was doing. Many Christians where persecuted and killed. Now we come to chapter 12.

"That's when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John's brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter--all this during Passover Week, mind you-- and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover." Acts 12:1-4 MSG

The Apostle James was killed by Herod and Peter was thrown into prison and sentenced to publicly die very shortly. And not only that, but he was

"shackled to two soldiers, one on either side" Acts 12:6

with sixteen Roman guards total. If that's not a completely, totally, and utterly hopeless situation, I don't know what is.

You and me are also going to face challenges in life. Some are smaller, and some seem overwhelming and hopeless. If we're going to chase after God wholeheartedly and if our hearts are going to freely live for Him, plain and simple - it won't be easy.

Back to chapter 12. Notice one small verse:

"All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously." Acts 12:5 MSG

The people prayed, and when the people prayed, look at what happened:

"Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: 'Hurry!' The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, 'Get dressed. Put on your shoes.' Peter did it. Then, 'Grab your coat and let's get out of here.' Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an angel--he thought he was dreaming. Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That's when Peter realized it was no dream. 'I can't believe it--this really happened!' Acts 12:7-11 MSG

Peter was rescued out of a completely hopeless situation. God walked Him right out of prison and all those guards like it was nothing, because for Him - it was nothing!

I'm amazed at how small I think sometimes, at how faltering my faith can be, and at how double-minded I am.

"...but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 KJV

There is nothing too hard for God. There is nothing He can't do. There is no situation He can't work in. There is no person He can't use. There is no hurt that he can't fix. There is nothing too big for Him.