Peter had no reason to be hopeful when he was thrown into prison - very few people left the prison alive. But he had his fervent faith in the Lord Jesus - and sure enough, an angel came to his rescue and set him free. We will probably not experience so dramatic a rescue from our own stressful situations, but we should nonetheless be assured that God is always there for us. When we face life's difficulties and heartbreaks our faith sometimes goes out the window. In reality, that is when it should be the strongest. God never turns His back on us.

When Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about his identity most of them merely repeated what they had heard on the street and in the marketplace - popular opinion. Peter was uncharacteristically silent, and moved by the Spirit within, confessed that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of the Living God. His response and his openness to revelation won him great honour, but it later became obvious that he was very human and not always worthy of it. That should not upset us; grace is not a prize for sanctity and perfection, but a gracious gift to those in need. Paul was a man of many gifts and many weaknesses, and not every aspect of his life was admirable. Both of these men rose to greatness through their humanity, not in spite of it, by humbling themselves before the Lord. We should never think that we are unable or unworthy to be a servant of God and bearer of the light - we only have to be humble enough.