Have you ever been surprised in an
answer to prayer? Perhaps you prayed for something, and were shocked that it
actually happened. In the book of Acts Chapter 12, that exact thing happened.
Peter is arrested and the authorities were ready to execute him for preaching
the gospel. The Church was still in shock from the death of James, the brother
of John. They prayed, (Acts 12:5) but knew Peter was likely headed for the same
fate.
Yet, in the middle of the night,
like a dream, an angel of God frees Peter from prison and Peter decides to
visit a group of Christians who at that moment were praying, probably for his
release (Acts 12:12). The servant girl is so shocked he leaves Peter at the
door knocking and tells the praying Christians who don’t believe her! (Acts
12:15) When they finally opened the door, Scripture says “they saw him and were
amazed.” (Acts 12:16)
There is much to love in this story.
First, the humor of Peter showing up and being left knocking at the door. But
also, it is amazing to see the church pray for something they seemed not to
believe would be answered in the way they desired. Perhaps this shows that the
strength of the faith of our prayer is not the factor, but the strength of the
One to Whom we pray is what counts! Certainly, God does not always answer us
exactly how we want. Jesus prays to avoid the cross if possible, praying “may
this cup pass from me” but ultimately submits to His Father, that His Father’s
Will be done: “not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Our prayers, for
the sake of our good and God’s glory must sometimes be answered: “no.”
That fact, however, should not lead
us to abandoning prayer because it would “not change anything.” God is
sovereign, yet still God sovereignly decided that prayer would change things
humanly speaking. God loves to use means (our confession of faith even says so!
WCF 3.1). God does not have to use the means of his Word to convert, yet God
uses that secondary means. God also does not have to use the means of prayer to
affect events, yet God ordains the prayers and events of history at times to
aid our faith, and even advance the gospel. Stephen prayed for Saul, and Saul
was converted. The church prayed for Peter’s release, and Peter was released.
Hezekiah prayed not to die, and God gave him 15 more years. God answers
prayers, for our benefit, and sometimes intervenes in ways that would be
different if not for our prayers because God wills that prayer be the deciding
factor. Prayer becomes a means of our peering into the graciousness and mercy
of a Father who listens to His beloved children.
One such prayer, that changed all of
our lives, was uttered by Christ on the cross. “Father, forgive them.” Although
God does not answer all of our prayers “yes” he does answer the prayers that
are best for us. We can thank God then for a “no,” such as the Father answered
Jesus’ prayer that the cup pass from Him, so that God could answer “yes” to the
prayer: “Father, forgive them.”
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