So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God ... When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” Acts 12:5,13-15

God answers prayer even amidst unbelief. The details of Peter’s miraculous release (verses 6-11) chronicle astounding divine intervention - chains that suddenly dropped, soldiers who were unaware, and a locked gate that opened as if it were motorized. But, were these miraculous events in response to the fervent prayers of the church? If they were praying for Peter’s release, why were they so shocked when he appeared at the house where they were praying? What were they anticipating as they prayed?

We may not always truly believe that God will answer as we ask. As we pray for those who are seriously ill - even mortally so - we may not fully believe God will miraculously act. Perhaps we dare not be so bold in prayer because we sense it will reflect poorly on God’s reputation if He does not act as we ask.

God does not always act in the way we ask in that our insight is often limited. How easy it is to pray for an obvious health need when the deeper need is for the salvation of this one who has not received and embraced the gospel.

We do not always clearly see why and how God responds to prayer. There are numerous biblical examples of His direct response to prayer, and then there are instances such as we read in Acts 12 in which He seems to act even in the face of unbelieving prayer. The lesson is that “at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” Luke 18:1.

Be sure to also see Amazon ebook & print devotional and podcast: New Day Dawning.