By Andrew Williams
Acts 12:12-15 (NLT) “When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, ‘Peter is standing at the door!’ ‘You’re out of your mind!’ they said. When she insisted, they decided, ‘It must be his angel.’”
Good morning fellow disciples.
This passage captures a moment of both faith and doubt. While the believers were fervently praying for Peter’s release from prison, they struggled to believe when their prayer was miraculously answered. Rhoda’s joy and excitement caused her to leave Peter at the door as she rushed to share the good news, but the others dismissed her testimony at first. This scene reveals the tension that sometimes exists between our prayers and our expectations. It challenges us to trust that God’s answers to our prayers may come in ways that surprise us or seem too good to be true.
This story empowers us to redirect our focus to faith in God’s ability to answer prayers—even when the answer comes unexpectedly. Like the early church, we may pray passionately for breakthroughs but struggle to believe when God moves in miraculous ways. Rhoda’s excitement and persistence remind us to celebrate God’s work with joy and boldness, even if others doubt. As disciples, we are called to pray with expectancy, trusting that the God we serve is faithful and able to do the impossible.
This week, reflect on your prayer life. Are there prayers you’ve been offering to God but doubting His ability to answer? Redirect your focus to trusting in His power and timing. As you pray, make room in your heart to expect God to move—even in ways you don’t anticipate. When you see an answer to prayer, be like Rhoda—overflow with joy and share the testimony with others. Encourage someone this week by telling them about a time when God answered your prayer and invite them to trust Him for their own needs.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who hears and answers prayer. Forgive me for the times I have prayed but doubted, or when I have failed to recognize Your answers. Help me to redirect my focus to faith in Your ability to perform the unexpected and miraculous. Teach me to pray with expectancy and to celebrate Your work with joy, just as Rhoda did. I commit to trusting You in all things and sharing the testimonies of Your faithfulness with others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
