I love the readings from the Acts of the Apostles that immediately follow Easter. They speak to my journalism background and I often feel as though I am reading actual news accounts of the early Christians and their activities.

We have been revisiting this week the experiences of Peter and other Apostles –  preaching, landing in jail, going before the Sanhedrin, again and again. In today’s first reading, Peter responds to the high priest’s questioning with the bold statement, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Then, in John’s Gospel, we hear this nugget: “God is trustworthy.”

How shocking Peter’s statement to the high priest must have been. The members of the Sanhedrin undoubtedly believed they did speak for God, so it would bring them up short to be reminded that there is a power higher than theirs.

How often we face decisions or dilemmas that cause us to question the right course of action. When those situations arise, sometimes we are choosing between what our heart, or gut, tells us vs. what the social norm or “preferred way” dictates. For example, do I take a job offer that would pay more salary, but the organization seems impervious to some ethical considerations that I find troublesome? Or, do I speak up for someone whose rights are being trampled, even though doing so would put me at odds with a superior of mine?

Given time and reflection, it is usually clear what God’s will is in the situation. Peter had no doubt what was the right thing to do: keep preaching in the name of Jesus.

His assurance was due in part to the fact, as stated by John in the Gospel, that God is indeed trustworthy. We can trust that if we truly believe, after reflecting and praying, that we are acting according to God’s guidance, then we are acting justly. If new information comes to light or things don’t turn out as planned, we can still be assured that God is pleased with our attempts to do the right thing and will show us the way forward once again.