Reimagine Boldness Through the Lives of Peter & Johnنموونە

Praying for Boldness

What do you pray for when you know resistance is coming? Most of us would ask God to remove the pressure—to calm the critics, eliminate the obstacles, or make the path smoother. But what if God’s greatest work often happens through the very things we want Him to take away?

After Peter and John were released from their first arrest, they didn’t pray for safety. They didn’t ask for protection, favor, or peace. They prayed for boldness.

They didn’t ask God to change the situation—they asked Him to change them. They knew opposition wasn’t a detour; it was part of the mission. And they didn’t shrink back. Their prayer was essentially We’re not asking You to take the fire away. We’re asking for the strength to walk through it.

Their courage stunned the religious leaders. Peter and John were “unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13, NIV)—fishermen, not rabbis. But they spoke with authority, not because of credentials, but because of conviction. When ordered to stop preaching, their response was immediate: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19, NIV)

That’s not arrogance—it’s allegiance. They weren’t trying to be difficult; they were trying to be faithful. Jesus had commissioned them, and no earthly command could cancel that heavenly calling.

Today, we face the same tension. When culture pushes back, when faithfulness comes at a cost, how will we respond? Will we ask God to make things easier—or to make us braver?

The early church didn’t grow because its path was smooth. They grew because their prayers were strong. They knew that bold prayers lead to bold faith—and bold faith shakes the world.

God still answers those kinds of prayers. He still fills ordinary people with extraordinary courage. He still gives strength to those who ask not for comfort, but for conviction. And He still calls us to be witnesses, not worriers.

So, what will you pray for? Less friction—or more fire in your soul? An easier path—or a braver heart? What if the next chapter of your faith isn’t about fewer obstacles—but about a deeper resolve?

When we pray like the early church, we’ll start to live like them, too.

Reflection Questions:

1. When you face resistance for your faith, do you usually pray for the situation to change—or for the strength to stay faithful?
2. What would it look like for you to start praying more boldly about your witness?

Prayer:
Father God, like Peter and John, I don’t ask for ease—I ask for courage. Give me boldness to speak and live for You, no matter the cost. Strengthen me for whatever lies ahead and make me faithful in every opportunity. Amen.