When a certain member of our family lost his brother’s new iPod Touch—in our home—a cloud of disappointment and bewilderment filled the air for several days. (How can you lose an iPod in a house?) Prayers were sent up and theories abounded as we strived to find the costly gadget. And then, below the very cushions where people had sat and prayed days before, the lost music and video player was found . . . deep inside the workings of our sleeper sofa!

This episode in the days of my family’s life reminds me of a humorous story found in Acts 12. It begins, however, in a not-so-funny way. The apostle Peter had been imprisoned in Jerusalem by King Herod (Acts 12:3).

As a favor to Jewish leaders, Herod already had seen to the killing of James (the brother of John). It looked like Peter was next on the list. As the apostle was being held in chains, the “church prayed very earnestly for him” (Acts 12:5). But then, the night before Peter was to go to trial, he was miraculously set free by an angel (Acts 12:7). Having gained his freedom, he headed for a safe place—the home of Mary, John Mark’s mother (Acts 12:10-12). (Here’s the funny part.) As Peter gently knocks at the gate of the home and quietly calls out, a girl named Rhoda hears him and is filled with joy. But instead of opening the door, she runs back and tells the others! Initially, the other believers, who had been diligently praying for Peter’s release, don’t believe her. So Peter keeps pounding on the door, and they finally let him in (Acts 12:13-16).

This amusing account packs a point: Is there something you’ve been earnestly praying for that God has already answered? It may be time for you to grasp the reality that God’s response has already been made plain.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 8:1-25