Acts 12:15-19: a reflection

15They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

The church has been praying earnestly for Peter, who is imprisoned and awaiting execution. God answers dramatically, sending an angel to free him, and Peter comes and knocks at the door of the house where the believers are gathered. When the servant girl Rhoda recognizes his voice and runs to tell them, they do not believe her: you are out of your mind, they say. She insists, and they conclude it must be his angel. All the while, Peter keeps knocking, until at last they open the door and are astonished.

There is gentle humor and deep grace in this scene. The very people who were praying for Peter's deliverance could not believe it when their prayer was answered and he stood at the door. Their faith was real enough to pray, but not large enough to expect the answer. And yet God answered anyway. He did not wait for their faith to be perfect; he delivered Peter while they were still praying, and even while they struggled to believe he had done it. God's power to answer was not limited by the smallness of their faith.

This is a great encouragement for those of us who pray with weak or wavering faith. The praying church here was full of doubt even as their prayer was being answered, and God answered all the same. Do not think your prayers are worthless because your faith feels small, or that God will only act if you can perfectly believe. He is gracious enough to answer even the prayers of doubting hearts, sometimes exceeding what we dared to expect. Keep praying, even with small faith, and trust the God who answers beyond our believing.

Lord, the church prayed for Peter and yet could not believe it when you answered and he stood at the door, but you delivered him anyway. Thank you that your power to answer is not limited by the smallness of my faith. When I pray with weak or wavering trust, remind me that you are gracious enough to answer even doubting hearts, sometimes beyond what I dared to expect. Keep me praying, and let me trust the God who answers beyond my believing. Amen.