Rhoda & the God Who Knows Your Name

Rhoda from the Bible is mentioned only once. We learn that she’s a servant girl in Mark’s house. She answers the door when Peter knocks, but leaves him standing outside while she overly excitedly tells everyone inside that Peter is at the door. Of course, nobody believes her until they see for themselves.

I’m so relieved that there are so many characters in the Bible who don’t believe something until they see it for themselves.

~The apostles.

~Thomas.

~Elisha’s slave Gehazi.

Others see but refuse to believe their own eyes.

~The disciples, when Jesus walked on water toward their boat.

~Joseph’s brothers.

~The two disciples on their way to Emmaus.

I'm not the only "little faith" person on the earth. I'm in good company. But, I'm digressing.

My focus is on Rhoda, she fascinates me. God mentions her name, not because she's a person of high standing, but because He wants me to understand that He knows my name, even if I'm a lowly servant girl.

Our position in life doesn't determine our position with God.

She participated in the prayers for Peter's release from prison. She wouldn't have been so excited about his release if she hadn't invested in praying for him. This tells me that she was a valued member of the community, even if she was only a servant girl.

We can be excited about answered prayers.

We don’t have to feel blasé about it, and treat it like run-of-the-mill experiences. I don’t know about you, but I seldom receive such miraculous answers to prayer as this group did on this occasion. Mostly, I have to persist and wait.

Rhoda’s reaction is so human.

I love this about the Bible. It doesn’t polish characters and present them as perfect. It’s alright to be so caught up in our own excitement that we forget about someone standing outside. Poor Peter. Sorry, but for the moment we’re not concerned about you, we share in Rhoda’s excitement.

Together with Rhoda I’m excited about God hearing and answering my prayers. I’m excited knowing that I’m not a mere number. God knows my name and calls me His own.

Hosea put it well: I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, “You’re nobody!” they’re calling you “God’s living children.” Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “chosen of God,” They’d be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name... (Romans 9:25-28).

Not only does He call me by name, but He reminds me that I'm His own special treasure.

Whether I pray for myself or others, it's wonderful to know that God listens, hears more than what I say, and answers, giving me superabundantly more than I have asked for or even thought about. He is El Shaddai, the God of more than enough.

Rhoda and I have reason to be excited about God. How about you?

© 2026 Rina Schultz. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Knowing God.

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