Our family has been praying for several years for God’s favor over a particular dream and the answer was always “In My time, just wait.” It has been hard and frustrating to wait and I have to admit, I have not been especially patient. I felt ignored and have been unappreciative of what God was doing because I wanted what I wanted. Nothing else was good enough. Finally after several years of waiting, the dream is coming true. The unexpected thing is, it is all so surreal. It seems too good to be true!
As I’ve been repenting of my unbelief and impatience, I’ve also been wondering why the excitement I expected isn’t there. As I prayed God reminded me of the story of Peter’s jail break found in Acts 12: 1-19.
To please the religious leaders, Herod had James the brother of John and a disciple of Jesus put to death by the sword. When he saw that this pleased them, Herod had Peter arrested planning to have him brought to trial after the Feast of Unleavened Bread or Passover (the celebration of God delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt).
Peter was in jail guarded by four squads of four soldiers each waiting for public trail. The church was earnestly praying asking God for Peter’s release.
The night before the trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and lit up the cell. He had to strike Peter to wake him up. “Quick, get up” the angel told Peter and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
The angel told Peter to put on his clothes and sandals, so he did. The angel then said, “Put your coat on and follow me.” Peter followed the angel but had no idea that this was really happening. Peter thought he was having a vision. They walked past the first set of guards, then past the second set of guards and right up to the iron gate of the prison. The gate opened by itself and they walked right past the sentries and out of the prison. The angel led Peter down the street and then disappeared. As Peter stood there all alone he finally came to himself and realized what had just happened. God had performed a miracle in answer to the prayers of the church! He said to himself, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the religious leaders were anticipating.”
Peter went to the house where the church was praying and knocked on the door. The servant girl, Rhoda, came to the door and was so astonished that she ran back into the house without letting Peter in. The people gathered there praying told her, “You’re out of your mind!” and when she kept insisting he was there they said, “It must be his angel.”
Peter just kept on knocking until they finally let him in. They were so astonished they began to make a lot of noise. Peter motioned for them to be quiet and told them what God had done. He encouraged them to tell the church leaders and then he left.
Doesn’t it seem funny that when God answered the people’s prayers, they found it hard to believe? It’s a wonder God didn’t do a “Gibb’s smack” to the back of their heads. What faith! What trust in God! What separates me from them? Nothing!
The church prayed earnestly just as my family and I have prayed. There has been a measure of piety in seeking God and straining for what we believe to be God’s will. I have been consoled by Isaiah 30:18 “… the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” It has become part of my life, the norm to pray, believe and wait. I know how to do that.
The church had faith enough to pray, believe and wait for Peter’s release but they lacked the faith to receive it. What is our job once God grants our request? I’m discovering it requires just as much faith to receive the answer as to ask and wait.
Jesus said in Mark 11:22, “Have faith in God, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” We are to start receiving when we start praying!
Lord, forgive my doubting heart and help me to have faith enough to receive the answer. Forgive me for feeling like I need to look over my shoulder to see if it really is “too good to be true”! I KNOW you are faithful to your word – I BELIEVE AND RECEIVE!
