Acts 9:31-35: a reflection

31So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 32As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 35All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

This short passage gives us a glimpse of a season of quiet flourishing in the early church. The churches throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, it says, had peace and were built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they multiplied. It was a time of peace, growth, and steady walking with God. And in it, Peter heals a paralyzed man, Aeneas, and many who see it turn to the Lord.

Notice the marks of this flourishing season: peace, being built up, growth, and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Spirit. It was not a time of dramatic crisis, but of steady, healthy growth, the church living in peace, walking faithfully with God, and multiplying. Such seasons of quiet flourishing are a gift, times when God's people grow strong not through trial but through steady faithfulness and the comfort of his presence.

That is worth remembering, for we can undervalue the quiet seasons of steady growth. We may think that only dramatic times, of crisis or great events, are significant, and overlook the gift of a season of peace in which we are quietly built up, walking faithfully with God, growing strong in the comfort of his Spirit. But these quiet, flourishing seasons are precious, and to be received with gratitude and used well. When God gives you a season of peace, of quiet growth and steady walking with him, do not despise it or wish for more drama. Receive it as a gift, and use it well: be built up, walk in the fear of the Lord, grow strong in the comfort of the Spirit, as the early church did in its season of peace. The quiet seasons of steady faithfulness are as much God's gift as the dramatic ones; give thanks for them, and grow.

Lord, this passage gives a glimpse of a season of quiet flourishing in the early church: the churches had peace, were built up, and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they multiplied. Help me value such quiet seasons of steady growth. I can undervalue them, thinking that only dramatic times, of crisis or great events, are significant, and overlooking the gift of a season of peace in which I am quietly built up, walking faithfully with you, growing strong in the comfort of your Spirit. But these quiet, flourishing seasons are precious, and to be received with gratitude and used well. When you give me a season of peace, of quiet growth and steady walking with you, keep me from despising it or wishing for more drama. Help me receive it as a gift, and use it well: to be built up, walk in the fear of the Lord, and grow strong in the comfort of your Spirit, as the early church did in its season of peace. Help me give thanks for the quiet seasons, Lord, and grow in them.