I remember hearing the testimony of a man who had been addicted to drugs for years. Someone reached out and told him about God’s love. Several people gathered around the man, and together they prayed for him to be released from his addiction. In one miraculous moment, he never felt the cravings for his drugs again.

Some of those praying saw the change in the man and realized their prayers had been immediately answered. Others in the same prayer group doubted the man was cured of his addiction so miraculously.

I’ve heard similar stories from several sources over the years. People pray and when their prayers are answered some are joyful, while some are skeptical.

It turns out people’s reactions to answered prayers had been like this since the church was young. The church prayed for Peter after his arrest by King Herod. Reaction to their answered prayer is recounted by Luke in Acts 12.

Peter’s Rescue

King Herod viscously persecuted the young Christian church. Herod had James, the brother of John, arrested and executed. When he saw this had made the Jews happy, Herod also arrested Peter planning to execute him after Passover.

The night before Peter was to be executed, God sent an angel to rescue Peter. The angel released Peter’s chains, led him out of prison and down the street, and then disappeared.

When Peter realized where he was, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of Mark. Mary’s house was large enough to accommodate the local Christians who gathered there to pray for Peter’s release. Mary’s house had an outer gate door and an inner courtyard.

Peter arrived at the outer gate door and knocked. Rhoda, the servant girl, came to answer the door.

“Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” (Acts 12:13-14)

The Reaction of the Servant Girl

I imagine it is the middle of the night. Peter’s friends and fellow believers have been inside the house for hours praying for Peter’s release when suddenly there is a knock at the door. Mary’s servant girl, Rhoda, goes to the outer gate. “Who is it?” Rhoda asks, and Peter says, “It’s me, Peter, let me in!”

There are four aspects of Rhoda’s reaction worth noting.

Recognition

Rhoda must have known Peter because the scripture tells us she recognized his voice immediately.

Rejoicing

When she realized who was at the door, Rhoda was overjoyed, knowing their prayers had been answered.

Running

She was so excited to tell everyone, Rhoda ran back inside the house without even opening the gate and letting Peter inside.

Reaffirming

When Rhoda told everyone in the house that Peter was at the gate they simply didn’t believe her, but she stood her ground, insisting it was Peter at the gate.

Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice immediately and never questioned who was at the gate. She was so excited she ran back inside to tell everyone. Then, when they doubted her, she insisted their prayers had been answered, Peter was standing at the gate!

The Reaction of the Group

Sadly, the reaction of the people praying for Peter was very different.

“You’re crazy!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, “It’s his angel!” Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Report these things to James and the brothers,” he said. Then he departed and went to a different place. (Acts 12:15-17)

There are four aspects of the people’s reaction to Rhoda’s announcement worth noting.

Scorning

When Rhoda first announced Peter was at the gate, the people inside scorned her, saying she was crazy.

Stubbornness

The people inside stubbornly refused to believe Peter was really at the gate. Instead, they believed it was Peter’s angel making an appearance.

Slowness

Unlike Rhoda who responded to Peter’s voice immediately, the people didn’t respond right away. Peter had to keep knocking on the door to get them to respond!

Surprise

When they finally responded to Peter’s knocking at the gate, the people were astounded to see it was Peter, not his angel, standing before them.

The people made such a commotion that Peter had to motion for them to keep quiet, so he could tell them how the Lord had rescued him.

How Do We Respond?

In Peter’s case, fellow believers were praying for his safe release, but when God answered their prayer, they didn’t believe it. They believed the appearance of an angel over the appearance of the actual man.

They had a hard time believing God answered their prayers.

We are not so different from the believers praying for Peter’s release. Some will pray in earnest yet react to answered prayer with scorn, stubbornness, slowness, or sheer surprise.

We should endeavor to be like the servant girl, Rhoda, who recognized the answered prayer and responded by rejoicing!

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. Are there times in life when you or someone you know responded to God’s answered prayer like Rhoda? Or, like those inside the house?

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Category: Personal Development | Character