“Why do you continue these meetings?” the secret policeman asked the Christian. “Do you think your neighbors wouldn’t report you to us?”
The young man was a new Christian, but already he had led twenty others to Christ. They were praying that God would provide them a place to gather and worship together.
For three weeks, the North African Christians met in an apartment—an illegal gathering that could lead to their arrest. Their praise and singing alerted the neighbors, who reported them to the secret police.
Three times the young Christian had been hauled in for questioning.
“Do you speak against Islam?” demanded the officer during the third interrogation.
“No,” the Christian answered. “We have nothing to do with Islam. We worship Jesus.”
“Do you speak against our leaders?”
“No, sir. We pray for our leaders, just as Jesus told us to.”
“Why don’t you find another place to meet? Then your neighbors will stop reporting you.”
“How can we, sir? We don’t have the proper permission.”
The officer reached into his desk and took out a form. He wrote for several minutes and handed the form to the Christian. It granted the Christians the right to meet together in a church building that was no longer being used. A beautiful building and government permission to meet there—it was an answer to their prayers.
There is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. God always answers each of our prayers. Yet he may not answer in the way we prayed he would. Sometimes the answer is, “Wait.” We must wait on his timing in order to move ahead. Sometimes his answer is for us to “grow.” Our request is right on target, but we still have some growing to do in order to move ahead. Still, sometimes we are disappointed to hear his answer is, “No.” Our request is not in line with his will, or the timing is not right. And sometimes, the answer is, “Go.” Our request is on target. We are spiritually prepared, and the timing is right. What is God’s answer to your prayer right now?
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