Why God’s Answers Shouldn’t Surprise Us

Startled by the Very Thing We Asked For

My friend looked at me with eyes full of disbelief. "Can you believe it?" she excitedly said. "Believe what?" I asked. "Believe that my son became a Christian today. Isn't that wonderful!" "Of course," I told her. "I am so happy for you and him!" But to myself, I thought, well, isn't that what you prayed for so long. Why are you surprised?

Why Are We So Surprised?

Sometimes, though, isn't that all of us? We pray for something: salvation for a loved one, healing, a marriage to be restored, a job, for example, and then when God grants that prayer we seem startled by it. It's as if we pray, believing God will hear us and answer, but when He does, it's like we are saying, "Wait. What?"

God Never Forgets—But We Do

It's as though all the many things we have prayed for over the years that God has given us; we suddenly forget. Our pitiful human memories fail us. It's as if the only thing we can remember is what we have been asking for lately. We forget. But God never does. Satan would love for us to forget how many times God has faithfully answered our prayers.

The Value of Writing It Down

I am not someone who journals on a regular basis, but one thing I am beginning to realize, thanks to my Bible Study group I regularly attend, is that one good way to remember God's blessings is to write them down. Many of us have a prayer list but how many of us write it down when God answers that prayer?

Not Every Answer Is What We Expect

We may not get the answer we want every time and we surely won't get an answer, normally anyway, as speedily as we would like, but we should take the time to write it down or at the very least, share that answered prayer with others. I think it may be as important to write down prayers that are answered in a negative way, as those with a positive answer.

We need to be reminded that it is God's will we seek, not our own. If we did this, we might not be so surprised that God does indeed answer prayers. This reminds me of one of the most remarkable examples of answered prayer in the New Testament.

Don’t Be Surprised—The Church Was

In Acts 12: 5-19, we read the story of Peter's miraculous escape from Herod's prison. The story begins by telling us that "constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." This faithful church knew it would take God's intervention to free Peter. How this would happen, of course, they didn't know.

Peter Was at the Door—and They Still Didn’t Believe

After Peter was freed, with the help of an angel, he went to a home where many people were gathered together praying. Their poor servant girl, Rhoda, was so excited by hearing his voice at the door, she forgot to let him in, but instead, ran to tell the others. They must have stopped praying to say to her, in Acts 12:15, "You're out of your mind" (NIV). When she insisted it was Peter, they told her it must be his angel. They were in disbelief that their prayer was answered! Or maybe they couldn't believe it would be answered in such a miraculous way.

Peter, still standing outside, continued to knock until finally, someone opened the door. What was their reaction? Astonishment! How often have we, like Peter's friends, been astonished by how God answered our prayers?

Why We Need to Tell These Stories

This is one reason that we need to gather with fellow believers to share our stories and encourage one another. It is easy to forget the goodness of God but when we come together those beautiful stories of answered prayers lift us up and help us to see that even in times of disobedience, our God has blessed us in ways we didn't deserve. God's faithfulness is great.

Real People, Real Answers, Real Faith

We need to read more of the stories in the Bible of God answering prayer. These aren't just stories, these are real people with real struggles that God has given as an example. They are meant to encourage us and help us not be surprised when God answers.

Why God’s Answers Shouldn’t Surprise Us

Maybe we think we're just not good enough for God to hear our prayers. Then when He does we're surprised. Thankfully God doesn't demand perfection to hear us. What He does want is a humble and contrite heart (Isaiah 57:15). In Isaiah 59: 2 we are told, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." But He knows perfection isn't possible.

Modern Stories of God’s Faithfulness

I read a story recently about Jenny Hawkins, a successful author and former atheist, who became a Christian as an adult. She related that she had prayed for 10 years that her relationship with her estranged stepson would be restored and it was! She spoke of her atheist father being saved in his 70s.

He Answers for Our Good, Not Our Convenience

She shared that God doesn't simply grant every request because His ways are always for our ultimate good—measured by how much they draw us closer to Him and transform us into His likeness. She emphasized that true blessings are found in deepening our relationship with God, growing in trust, love, and understanding.

When Waiting Feels Like Forever

Her story encourages us not to be discouraged by long waits. Even when the process is challenging and painful, God's active work in our lives is evident, and so is the faithful support of loved ones. She reminds us not to stop praying because, "God is listening; humans are stubborn! Even so—they are no match for a God who hears—and a loved one who prays."

God’s Timing Is Perfect

Stories like this remind us to not be surprised when it takes a long time to have a prayer answered. Waiting on God may be difficult but what it tells us is that God's timing is perfect as are His ways. We don't need to question; we need to have faith. Our faith, as Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

A Father’s Love in Every Answer

God is our loving Father. Some of you have experience as a parent. Maybe your child wants a cell phone. They are persistent in pleading for it but they are only 8 years old. As a person who is wiser than an 8-year-old, you can see a time when having a cell phone would be useful for them, but not now. So you put them off. They aren't happy.

But then, a few years later, you show up one day with the gift of a cell phone. They are shocked and surprised that after several years you finally said yes. Perhaps you lovingly remind them that you only want what is best for them. That you have tried to provide for their needs if it is for their benefit. You tell them they shouldn't be surprised when you answer their request because you love them. And so does God.

Now let's pretend that your 8-year-old was defiant, cursing and out of control. But they come to you pleading, promising to be good if they got a phone, but misbehaving and seemingly not sorry at the same time. That child might have to wait a long, long time to get a cell phone.

Unanswered Doesn’t Mean Unheard

God doesn't hear us when we act like that 8-year-old. Just remember that an unanswered prayer is not necessarily an unheard prayer. God is holy and doesn’t respond to prideful or rebellious hearts in the same way He does to those who are humble and sincere. Even when the silence or the difficult answers cut deep, we can trust that God has heard our prayers.

Even When the Answer Is Hard

When we lose those we love to sickness or death, in spite of praying faithfully for their healing, sometimes for many years, we have to remind ourselves that God loves them as He loves us. God heard our prayers even though the answer wasn't what we wanted; it was the will of God. From these hard times, we learn to trust wholly in Jesus.

Rejoicing in the Quick Answers Too

But then there are times when our prayers are answered quickly. I personally think this doesn't happen as often as we might like. But what rejoicing there is when it does. He does take care of our needs. I read a story of a family that had been working in missions. They were in debt and had prayed that there would be a way out for them.

As they went to the airport to get on the plane to leave they still owed $600. Then they were offered a later flight to make room for other passengers. They would be paid for their inconvenience. You guessed it—$600! God provided, as He does so often, so don't be surprised. In reflecting on these stories, it becomes clear why God’s answers shouldn’t surprise us—they remind us of His constant care and perfect timing.

Shouldn’t We Celebrate More Often?

Wouldn't it be nice if our church bulletins had a place not just for those who need prayer, but for those whose prayers have been answered. Share your answered prayers! Spread the good news that God is a loving father who doesn't want us to be surprised when He shows us that love.