In His Custody

A Reflection on the First Reading for April 25th, 2021:
Fourth Sunday of Easter

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Acts
4.7-12

While Peter and John were speaking to the people about the resurrection of Jesus, the captain of the temple arrested them and placed them in custody.

The next day the rulers, elders and scribes assembled. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.

“This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among human beings by which we must be saved.”
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

So often in my life I have allowed myself to be “placed in custody”. I have allowed the opinions of others to sway my knowledge of what is true. I have embraced the chains of worry and doubt, allowing fear to reign. I have given into the roles that society tries to dictate for me, holding back because it’s not the appropriate thing to do or say something that would proclaim Christ as the only Way, Truth, and Life. I have been a voluntary prisoner.

In recent days, our family has been experiencing attack by the enemy. Relationships are unstable, those we love are hurting, and what we believe to be the way things are intended to be is in jeopardy. I have once again become a voluntary prisoner. I have allowed my mother’s heart to be consumed with worry and doubt. I am constantly plotting and planning, writing, and rewriting the ending to these situations and then thinking about how I will deal with it. I have been praying, but all the time giving God very specific instructions for how He needs to step in and handle things. I have patted myself on the shoulder because I have refrained from giving Him timelines to meet, which shows the obvious trust I have in Him and His plan by ending my grocery list of demands with, “In Your time, Lord.”

I have rejected the Cornerstone and my life is once again crumbling out of control — my control.
I can learn a lesson or ten from Peter. He was an involuntary prisoner who called upon the Holy Spirit to give him the words of wisdom that have carried forth over 2000 years to reach this mother’s heart today.

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among human beings by which we must be saved.”

I know that I am a beloved daughter of God. He demonstrates this to me in every minute of every day. He has invited me to build my home on Him as the foundation — a strong cornerstone that never crumbles. He has given me my husband, a faithful companion for this earthly journey who models handing worry over to the care of God. So why worry? My home and family are solidly resting on the Cornerstone, and even if others have seemingly rejected Him, He tells me there is no other name by which they will be saved. They don’t have to believe just yet. When Jesus healed the paralytic at Capernaum, it was the man’s friends who brought him for healing. I can believe enough for all of us, lowering my loved ones through a roof to His healing hands.

He loves me so much that all He asks of me is to lay my burdens at His feet and trust that He has a plan in all of it. A plan that is so much better than any movie ending I could ever write. He has always equipped me for every other outcome, and He will not let me down. He never has before, and He never will.

I rest my weary mother’s heart and worries on the Cornerstone that is above all else.




Sandy Graves

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