When a certain member of our family lost his brother’s new iPod Touch—in our home—a cloud of disappointment and bewilderment filled the air for several days. (How can you lose an iPod in a house?) Prayers were sent up and theories abounded as we strived to find the costly gadget. And then, below the very cushions where people had sat and prayed days before, the lost music and video player was found . . . deep inside the workings of our sleeper sofa!
This episode in the days of my family’s life reminds me of a humorous story found in Acts 12. It begins, however, in a not-so-funny way. The apostle Peter had been imprisoned in Jerusalem by King Herod (Acts 12:3).
As a favor to Jewish leaders, Herod already had seen to the killing of James (the brother of John). It looked like Peter was next on the list. As the apostle was being held in chains, the “church prayed very earnestly for him” (Acts 12:5). But then, the night before Peter was to go to trial, he was miraculously set free by an angel (Acts 12:7). Having gained his freedom, he headed for a safe place—the home of Mary, John Mark’s mother (Acts 12:10-12). (Here’s the funny part.) As Peter gently knocks at the gate of the home and quietly calls out, a girl named Rhoda hears him and is filled with joy. But instead of opening the door, she runs back and tells the others! Initially, the other believers, who had been diligently praying for Peter’s release, don’t believe her. So Peter keeps pounding on the door, and they finally let him in (Acts 12:13-16).
This amusing account packs a point: Is there something you’ve been earnestly praying for that God has already answered? It may be time for you to grasp the reality that God’s response has already been made plain.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 8:1-25
More:
What do Psalm 3:4 and 1 Peter 3:12 tell us about God and His response to our prayers?
Next:
What prevents you from seeing answers to your prayers? How do you respond when God answers in a way that is disappointing to you?
jstabel on October 18, 2011 at 1:57 am
This might just be happening to me right now and I might no know it-until it comes to full manifestation.
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 9:51 am
I’ll pray for clarity, jstabel!
sun15 on October 18, 2011 at 4:22 am
very true!! A lot of times I have been unable to see God’s answer and solution to my problems because of my unbelief; the other times I have not wanted to see it because it just didn’t seem to happen my way.
But eventually I have realized that He never ignores and is always with me constantly trying to make me see things the way He sees it. And when I realize things through His eyes, its just so simple and already sorted out. In the midst of my turmoil I begin to acknowledge- “Be still, and know that I am God.”Psalm 46:10 and even if the answers are not as per my will He is God and his decisions/ answers are perfect…and always in time..
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 9:54 am
Great thoughts, sun15. Thanks for highlighting Psalm 46:10—this verse has meant a great deal to me as I’ve battled cancer over the years. It reminds me that God is both sovereign and present. I find peace in Him.
sun15 on October 19, 2011 at 4:28 am
Hi Tom, read about you on another website.
just amazing how close you were to death….would like to read your testimony….
tom felten on October 19, 2011 at 7:51 am
Hi sun15, actually that’s a different Tom Felten! My story is pretty well chronicled on this site in the various devo articles I’ve written. It’s been an 8-year battle with cancer, but by God’s grace I’m a four-time survivor of the disease. Peace.
sun15 on October 20, 2011 at 12:18 am
Truly amazing Tom….May God bless you – may His grace be abundant for you….and may it continue to overflow to the lives of others around you..
pteast on October 18, 2011 at 5:43 am
God really does see the ‘Big picture’ that we don’t. I am so glad He knows best!
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 9:59 am
Metoo, pteast. So often I’ve thought I knew what would have be best and then things didn’t go that way. Later, however, I found out that the plans I had originally wanted to succeed would have ended up being disasters. I’m so glad for God’s wisdom working in and around me!
sowharvest on October 18, 2011 at 10:49 am
Tom
I thank you for this devotional and the perspective. I have read these scriptures & just glanced over the young girl. But u know GOD is always in the details. I have praying for a change in circumstances and it seems that it not happening.. Hmmm. Maybe the better perspective is this devotional reading?!. In that GOD has certainly heard so I can stop bemoaning and wailing. Amen. It may be that is “is doing a new thing… [surely i] don’t perceive it. [Yet] HE IS making a way in this desert”. Isaiah 43:19.
So my prayer today turns to making it clear. Pray with me as I pray for you. Praise be to GOD.
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 10:59 am
sowharvest, yes, I’m praying for you. May God bless you with His peace and presence today!
pastorasa on October 18, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Sometimes answered prayers just seem to be too good to be true… Great analogy Tom.
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 4:00 pm
You’re right about those answered prayers, Asa. And sometimes we get answers, but don’t want to accept them . . .
bearpair on October 18, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Thanks, Tom, for a refresher on what has always been a favorite, yet poignant, Bible story. BYW, have you ever heard a great song titled, “Rhoda,” ((c) 1989) written & sung by Larnelle Harris? Its on his old I Can Begin Again CD. Have a great week Tom! T & P
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Not familiar with that one, T & P. I’ll have to check it out!
daisymarygoldr on October 18, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Good post and discussion, Tom Felten and all!
Not all answers come in the form of an obvious miracle of deliverance. Consider the spiritual heroes portrayed in the second half of the faith gallery in Hebrew 11. The answers to their prayers were given in the form of supernatural strength to endure… rather than miraculous escape to avoid suffering and death.
It is good to remember; sometimes in answer to our prayers God gives us grace to maintain a Christ-like spirit in the midst of trials and tribulations. When we are in crisis we can hardly see beyond our deep emotional, physical or spiritual pain.
Sometimes we don’t see the answer to our prayers because it is not the answer we want to see. But mostly because we don’t see the answer from God’s point of view—to look deep inside the workings of the sleeper sofa.
Just because we can’t see the answer, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. It is my heart’s prayer for God to open our eyes so we can see the answer in His miraculous provision, protection and presence (2 Kings 6:17).
We can see the answer only when we open the eyes of faith. “Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see” William Newton Clark
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Thanks for the insights, daisymarygoldr! We do “see by faith, not by sight.” Great quote from Clark, I’m going to meditate on that one!
alli on October 18, 2011 at 7:11 pm
wow wow and wow alll day long i have been pleading with God what do you want me to do for work, what do you want me to do for work…and finally i read this and in FRONT of me is a Card for an organzation that donates money to the poor for starting small businesses and i read this and am like duh! God probably is like my poor child.
tom felten on October 18, 2011 at 7:15 pm
alli, yes, perhaps this is God’s provision for work! May He give you discernment and wisdom for the days ahead.
OnMyWayHome on October 18, 2011 at 8:48 pm
My problem is I don’t pray that long and hard (I kinda don’t want to pester the Lord and other reasons). I’m now seeing that I should, as He does want to hear from me yet I need to listen to Him more.
Thank you knowing that prayer for a lost iPod is important…….
winn collier on October 19, 2011 at 4:35 pm
It shows my lack of faith that I’m often surprised when God actually responds to my prayers.