Acts 12
By Pastor Jerry
When Faith Falters
Sometimes the events of life can bring so much fear and anxiety that praying can be something we do without much faith. We pray even though the circumstances seem impossible. We bring our needs and requests to God – we don’t know what else to do. Does God ignore us when we pray with less than believing faith, our minds filled with doubt and fear? I know that in James 1:6 it tells us that we should believe and not doubt if we expect to get an answer from God. But I love the response given by a man in need when Jesus says, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The man replies, “I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief.”
A mixture of faith and fear are sometimes the most we can muster. This must surely have been the situation for the little band of believers hiding behind locked doors for fear of arrest, persecution and even death in Acts chapter 12. James had just been ”put to death with the sword” and Peter arrested. He was being guarded by 16 soldiers and always chained to two of them. The little church gathered at Mark’s mother’s house to pray for Peter’s release. When he shows up at the prayer meeting, after having been miraculously set free by and angel, they don’t believe the girl who says, “Peter is at the door.” In fact they tell her that she is “out of her mind.” Not a great example of believing faith – and yet – Peter was standing at the door!
I don’t know if that helps you, but it helps me to keep praying when, like Peter, the situation seems to be all locked up. Everything is possible for him who believes! Oh, Lord Jesus, we do believe. Help us with our unbelief!
