“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
Acts 12:1-5

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FEBRUARY 3, 2025

When was the last time you prayed earnestly? My most earnest prayers tend to be when I’m deeply longing for something. Unfortunately, at times I allow difficult circumstances to overwhelm and discourage me even as I pray about the matter weighing on my heart.

As much as I hate to admit it, far too often I find myself praying as though nothing will happen. Sometimes I pray half-heartedly because deep down the case feels hopeless. Maybe I’ve asked God to intervene in this situation before, and years have passed without a response. Maybe God has said no. How do we pray when the situation feels like a lost cause?

In Acts 12, we witness believers experiencing intense persecution. King Herod put the Apostle James to death, and the Church lost a core leader. If that wasn’t awful enough, Herod arrested Peter, another beloved leader and apostle. The Church must have realized it was only a matter of time before the king condemned him to a similar fate.

There is no doubt they prayed fervently for James, but God allowed him to be killed. Doubtless many expected Peter would share a similar fate, yet we are told in verse five that “the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

Even while mourning James and facing intense persecution, this community kept praying fervently. Perhaps they prayed for a divine rescue, or perhaps they simply prayed for God to strengthen Peter and help him stand firm. Either way, one thing is clear: their faith and dedication to their Messiah remained undiminished.

If you ever find yourself discouraged and praying half-heartedly during a seemingly impossible situation, take this as an invitation to pray earnestly for God to move not only in the situation but in your heart as well. After all, there are no lost causes to God—as those praying for Peter will soon see firsthand.

Question for reflection and discussion:

  • What does it mean to pray earnestly?
  • Why is it important to keep praying earnestly, even if God might not answer in the way that you hope?

 

Church Reading Plan: Genesis 35-36; Mark 6