Difficult Days & Faithful Prayers
Have you ever noticed that just before something big, something exciting, something significant, something always seems to go wrong? It’s like there’s always an obstacle before the adventure.
Every time I’ve planned a trip, something unexpected pops up. Most recently, I was preparing for a trip, and suddenly, I got selected for jury duty. I had to go through the process of requesting an exemption, right in the middle of all the final preparations.
Last year, right before we were supposed to leave for Spain—on the night of my daughter’s junior prom, no less—it was pouring rain. And wouldn’t you know it? Our water heater busted. Flooded the area. That night, Thaja and I were up at 4:30 in the morning trying to figure out how to replace a water heater. We went to Lowe’s, got a new one, installed it as best we could, went to church… and then headed to the airport. Why does it always seem like the moment something important is about to begin, something tries to stop it? Every adventure has a challenge at the starting line.
Every Mission Start with a Mountain
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And over the next few weeks, we’re going to see this same pattern unfold in the early church. As we walk through Acts chapters 12 through 17, we’ll see how the mission of God begins to break into new territory. We’ll watch as the kingdom expands—and as it does, there’s resistance every step of the way.
Peter, Saul, Barnabas, John Mark, and others—everywhere they go, they face opposition. Every city, every region, every mission… there’s always something trying to block what God is doing.
But here’s the encouragement: God was already preparing the hearts of people. Even in the face of resistance, the mission moved forward. And that same truth applies to us today. We may face tension, resistance, and spiritual push back, but the mission doesn’t stop. It begins there.
Obstacles with People
Some of Our Greatest Obstacles in Our Lives are People We Know and Love
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Herod the Great – This is the one from the Christmas story. He’s the one who ordered the killing of infant boys in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18), trying to eliminate the Messiah.
Herod Antipas – One of Herod the Great’s sons. He’s the one who beheaded John the Baptist (Matthew 14).
Herod Agrippa I – This is the Herod we see in Acts 12. He’s the grandson of Herod the Great and the nephew of Herod Antipas.
Later in Acts 25, we’ll meet Herod Agrippa II, Agrippa I’s son.
God’s Plan is Not Threatened by Political Power
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Prayer is the Power Move When We Face Spiritual Opposition
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Obstacles with Prayer
Prayer Brings Peace While in Prison
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Prayer is Personal
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The More We Pray the More We Trust
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Life is Confusing
Confusion is Turned into Confirmation as God Moves
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Miracles Are Meant to be Shared, Not Kept Secret
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Praying People Celebrate
Don’t Miss the Answered Prayers that Are at Our Door
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Celebrate Answered Prayers
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So, where does that leave us this morning? Peter’s story in Acts 12 isn’t just a powerful miracle—it’s a reminder of what can happen when people pray, when faith is alive, and when we keep showing up even when it’s hard.
This story invites us to ask:
Name the Obstacle in Front of You
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Invite Others to Pray with You, not just for You
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Live Each Day with Expectancy for God to Move
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Celebrate
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Here’s the challenge for all of us this morning: First, recognize the obstacles in front of you. Don’t ignore them or pretend they don’t exist—acknowledge them, and ask God for wisdom about your next steps. Second, invite others to pray for you and with you. But don’t stop there—be someone who prays for others, not just someone who asks for prayer. Third, expect surprises. Life will catch you off guard, and so will God—sometimes in ways that overwhelm you with His goodness. Finally, rejoice. Rejoice in what God is doing in your life, and in the lives of your family, your friends, and those you’ve been praying for.
