Acts 12:1–17 tells the story of the early church gathering to pray for the release of Apostle Peter. It was a critical moment in the spread of the gospel. James had just been arrested and killed. Peter was next. The fear was real and justified.
Peter wasn’t just another apostle, he was the one Jesus called the rock upon which He would build His church. If they could kill Peter too, it felt like only a matter of time before the persecution spread to everyone. It was giving “breakfast is ready and everyone’s about to get served” vibes (terrible joke, I know).
So the church did the only thing they could do: they gathered and prayed earnestly for Peter’s release.
While they were praying, God answered. An angel of the Lord went straight into the prison, woke Peter up, broke his chains, and led him out, past guards, through iron gates, until Peter found himself free. He made his way to the very house where the prayers were happening.
Now here’s where the story gets interesting.
Peter, being the gentleman he was, knocked on the door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. She saw Peter – the same Peter they were praying for – and instead of opening the door, she ran back inside to announce the miracle.
Her announcement was not met with celebration.
The prayer warriors dismissed her. They told her she must be out of her mind. Maybe she saw a ghost. Then they went right back to praying, likely with even more intensity.
Meanwhile, Peter is still outside. Knocking again. Probably louder this time.
Eventually, they open the door and finally realize: it’s actually Peter. In the flesh. Not a ghost. Not an illusion. The answer to their prayers had been standing outside the whole time.
And that’s the part of the story that troubles me the most.
They prayed. God answered. But when the answer showed up, they didn’t believe it was the answer.
Maybe they expected God to do it differently. Maybe they had no mental picture at all of how the answer would come. Or maybe they were so focused on praying for a miracle that they weren’t prepared to recognize it when it arrived.
It made me pause and reflect.
How many times have I boxed God into answering my prayers in only one specific way?
How often have I dismissed clear answers because they didn’t match my expectations?
Have I ever mistaken God’s provision for coincidence, imagination, or “a ghost”?
Sometimes the miracle you’re asking for is already knocking, your job is to open the door.
Faith isn’t just believing God can answer; it’s recognizing His answer when it comes.
Maybe, just maybe, we’re closer to our answered prayers than we think.
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