Believe When Prayers are Answered [Choosing Joy]

Last week I retold a story from the book of Acts chapter 12 where Peter is miraculously freed from prison and returns to a group of prayerful Christians who have trouble believing that he is free.  While I enjoy the imagery of an angel going into the prison and releasing Peter from chains, guards, and iron gates, the part of this story that I most relate to is the reaction of the group of believers.

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” vs. 5

How many times have we prayed for someone to be released from a prison?  Maybe they are not in a penitentiary but rather a prison of addiction, a prison of illness, a prison of depression, a prison of sin.  So we pray to God for them, and sometimes they are miraculously released from their chains!

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” vs. 7

But sometimes, especially when people have had a pattern of letting us down, even when a heart change is made, we are the ones who do not believe.

“When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!’ ‘You’re out of your mind,’ they told her.” vs. 14-15a

We don’t believe that our own prayers have been answered.

“But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” vs. 16

We must learn to trust that God answers prayers and saves people.  We must learn to give people second chances to prove God’s work in their lives and to give Him glory.  Prayer is powerful!  And what a blessing and a joy it is to recognize when our prayers are answered!