By Chuck E. Tate

Have you ever prayed for something but, deep down, didn’t truly believe it would happen? You ask God for help, but your circumstances seem so overwhelming that hope feels distant.

In Acts 12, we encounter a group of believers who were praying fervently for Peter’s release from prison. They asked God to intervene, but when the answer to their prayers showed up, they weren’t ready to believe it.

Peter’s situation was dire. James, the brother of John, had just been executed by King Herod. Now Peter was next in line, and Herod wasn’t taking any chances—Peter was guarded by 16 soldiers, chained, and locked away in a secure prison. It wasn’t just a difficult situation; it was a death sentence. The believers gathered to pray, but the intensity of the moment likely weighed heavily on them. The stakes were high, and they had just seen James killed.

What were the odds that Peter would make it out alive?

The Power of Prayer, Even in Doubt

Acts 12:5 (NLT) says, “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” They were doing exactly what they should have been—praying earnestly. But the truth is, they didn’t really expect God to do something miraculous. We know this because of what happened when Peter actually showed up at the door.

After God sent an angel to miraculously lead Peter out of the prison, Peter knocked on the door where the believers were praying. A servant girl named Rhoda answered, recognized his voice, and ran to tell everyone. But instead of rejoicing, they didn’t believe her. Acts 12:15 says, “‘You’re out of your mind!’ they said. When she insisted, they decided, ‘It must be his angel.’”

Think about that for a moment: they had been praying for Peter’s rescue, yet when the answer was standing right at their door, they couldn’t believe it. They had asked God for something big, but their response to Rhoda shows they didn’t truly expect God to act.

A Desperate Situation with a Divine Response

To understand the gravity of this moment, we need to remember the context. Herod had just killed James, one of Jesus’ inner circle, and Peter was next. His execution was likely imminent. The early church was still young and vulnerable, and Peter was one of its main leaders. Losing Peter would have been devastating.

Not only was Peter in prison, but he was under extreme guard—16 soldiers were assigned to watch over him. He was chained between two guards, and other guards were stationed at the doors. By all appearances, there was no way out for Peter. It wasn’t just a difficult situation; it was an impossible one. But that’s when God specializes in showing up.

God Moves, Even When We Struggle to Believe

Despite the seriousness of the situation and the lack of expectation from the believers, God still answered their prayers. He sent an angel to Peter, who woke him up, caused his chains to fall off, and led him past all 16 guards and through the prison gates. Peter himself thought it was a vision until he found himself standing in the street, fully free. Acts 12:11 says, "Peter finally came to his senses. 'It’s really true!' he said. 'The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!'"

What’s amazing about this story is that even though the church was praying with doubt lingering in their hearts, God still moved. He didn’t wait for their perfect faith—He responded to their earnest prayers.

Don’t Just Pray—Expect God to Act

When we pray, we often find ourselves balancing between hope and faith. While these two concepts are closely related, they aren’t the same. To fully grasp the message of expecting God to act, it’s important to understand the difference.

Hope is a desire or longing for something good to happen. It’s an optimistic expectation, but it can often be general or uncertain. Hope says, “I really want this to work out,” or “I hope God answers my prayer.” It’s a powerful force that helps us keep going when things are tough, but it doesn’t always carry the full assurance that faith does.

Faith, on the other hand, is a confident belief and trust in God’s promises, even when we can’t see the outcome. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (NLT). Faith doesn’t just wish for something—it expects it. Faith says, “I believe God will come through because He’s faithful, even if I can’t see it yet.”

In the context of Peter’s rescue, the believers were hoping for God to deliver Peter. They earnestly prayed for it, but when the answer came, their response showed a lack of faith. They had hope, but not the full confidence that God would actually act. Faith is what allows us to move beyond just asking and into expecting.

God Is Bigger Than Your Doubts

It’s important to acknowledge that the believers had good reason to be afraid and uncertain. Peter’s imprisonment came right after the tragedy of James’ death. They had just experienced loss, and now they were facing another potentially devastating blow. Their doubt didn’t make them less faithful—it made them human. But God is bigger than our doubts, and He is faithful even when we struggle to believe.

So, whether you’re praying for a breakthrough, a healing, or a situation that seems impossible, remember that God is not only able to answer your prayers—He delights in doing so. Don’t be surprised when He shows up. Don’t just ask God—expect God. Expect Him to move in your life, even when things look hopeless.

Final Thought

To quote Corrie ten Boom, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” God’s rescue of Peter is a powerful reminder that no situation is too far gone for Him to handle. The believers prayed, not fully expecting a miracle, but God answered anyway. He is faithful, He hears us, and He moves on our behalf—even when we struggle to believe. So, whatever you’re praying for, pray with expectation. God is ready to move, and His answer might already be knocking at your door.

Chuck E. Tate is a pastor in central Illinois, cohost of Revival Town Podcast, and the award-winning author of 41 Will Come. His second book (Nine Words From Jesus) will release in January.

Tate is also a member of the Think Eternity News team.