Contemplative Bible Reading

Acts 12 (New Living Translation)

5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”

I posted the above three verses to condense a longer story. Peter is in prison and will be executed the next day. The local Christians prayed earnestly for deliverance. Verse 11 shows that Peter has been led out of prison by an angel—the prayers are answered.

Verse 15 shows the subject of this post: the believing, praying Christians didn’t believe that God had done as they prayed. It couldn’t possibly be Peter at the door because Peter was in prison. It was impossible for Peter to have walked out of prison.

I’m no better than these Christians. I pray for the impossible, but I am not ready to see the impossible when God puts it right in front of me. God, help me in my unbelief.