THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 12:12-19
“When they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” (Acts 12:16)
The disciples were gathered in fear, desperately praying for Peter’s release.
When someone is pounding on the door at night, their fear intensifies.
Rhoda sneaks to the door, sees Peter, then forgets to open it in her shock.
The disciples themselves can’t believe it’s Peter… he is in prison!
They were praying for his release, but could not believe it when it happened.
Their prayer seems more like weak, fearful prayer, not ‘praying with faith’.
Some people say that if our faith is weak, God cannot answer our prayer.
James says people who pray with doubt are double-minded and unstable (James 1:6-8).
He says they should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
But he does not say they WILL NOT receive anything from the Lord.
These disciples didn’t expect to have their prayer answered, but the Lord did anyway.
The Lord answers their double-minded, unstable, fearful, doubting prayer.
Their faith, tiny like a mustard seed covered in the dirt of doubt, is enough.
Be encouraged when you pray with weak faith, God loves to surprise us!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, my faith is weak and I often do not expect to receive anything. Thank You that my mustard seed faith is enough. Thank You that You go way beyond all I ask or imagine – even when it’s small!