A Word from Acts 12

Have you ever prayed for something...and then got "surprised" when your prayer was answered? A loved one's illness unexpectedly got better. An opportunity you really wanted came your way, even though you didn't expect it would. A relationship got restored, or a wayward friend found grace. We pray about many things. But do we really anticipate that God will act?

Well, that's the question that I ask when I read today's word from Acts Chapter 12. It was hard time for the church in Jerusalem. Herod had put the apostle James to death. And when he saw how much that pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter, with the intention of killing him, too. But with Peter's trial about to take place, scripture gives us this brief but telling sentence: "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." (12:5, emphasis added)

That night, an angel visited Peter and led him to freedom. And you can't really blame Peter for thinking at first that he was just having a dream or a vision. But when he realized what had happened, he went to where the other believers were and knocked on the door. And when a servant told everyone that Peter had arrived, they say, "You're out of your mind." And when she insisted, they said, "It must be his angel." (v. 15)

So, here's this gathering of Christians, who not too long ago had received the miraculous gift of the Spirit, but who now seem shocked that God actually answered their prayers.

Now, just to be clear: I don't think this means that our prayers will always be answered in the way we want them to be answered. But I do think that God is faithful...and that He hears and responds to the cries of His children.

So, let's pray today knowing that we'll be heard. And then, let's not be surprised when God does "immeasurably more than all we asked or imagined." (Eph. 3:20-21) Amen.