When God Answers Our Prayer

Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognised Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir amongst the soldiers about what had become of Peter. When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
––Acts 12:1-19

When we pray, we do so with the faith that, whatever our request, God will answer our prayers. But why do we sometimes react with disbelief when God actually answers our prayers?

The Scripture passage in Acts 12:1-19 tells an amazing story of disbelief when God answered prayer. King Herod decided to go after the church at Jerusalem during the week of Passover. One of his first major acts was to execute the Apostle James, the brother of John. When Herod noticed how much his popularity increased among the Jews, he was inspired to arrest and imprison the Apostle Peter, surrounding him with four squads of four soldiers. Herod planned a very public execution of Peter after Passover.

From the moment that Peter was arrested, the members of the church prayed intensely for his release. Whether Peter lived or died, Peter remained confident in the Lord. And as the time approached for his execution, Peter slept soundly, shackled between the soldiers.

Suddenly, Peter was shaken awake, not by the soldiers, but by an angel. Wondering whether he was still dreaming, Peter followed the angel’s commands. He dressed quickly and followed the angel passed all of the soldiers and out of the prison. When the angel left him in the dark city street, Peter finally realized God had answered his prayers and that he was really free.

Peter made his way to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, which was packed with fellow believers who were praying to God for Peter’s release. It actually took a few moments before those in the house believed that Peter was free and standing outside, beating on the door.

When they finally opened the door and saw that it was Peter, all within the house cheered and praised God for answering their prayer. They then helped to quietly transport Peter out of Jerusalem before Herod and the soldiers knew what had happened.

Perhaps Peter and this brothers and sisters in Christ were amazed at the way in which God had answered their prayer. Perhaps they expected that God would have Herod order Peter to be released, or maybe that God would cause an earthquake that would break open the prison and allow Peter to escape during the confusion. But to free Peter in such a way that it left no doubt as to who was responsible? How could they not have seen that coming? We should be careful not to limit God in our prayers. After all, He is God.

As we pray, let us not put our own limits on how God might bring His answers. And let us remember that all ways are His ways.

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