The Open Heavens 20 April 2026 devotional for today is REVERSING HOPELESSNESS.
The author of this daily devotion is Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 20 APRIL 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: REVERSING HOPELESSNESS
MEMORISE
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psalm 3:3
READ: John 5:2-9
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 20 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
In today’s Bible reading, a certain man, who had suffered from an infirmity for 38 years, had an encounter with Jesus. From his response to Jesus Christ’s question, it was clear that he had lost all hope, but Jesus reversed his hopelessness when He commanded him to take up his bed and walk.
In an instant, the 38-year infirmity disappeared, and his hopelessness vanished. I pray for you today that the Almighty God, who can reverse hopeless situations, will visit you today, and you shall receive a miracle, in Jesus’ name.
When God wants to turn a fellow whom the world seems to have forsaken into a living testimony, He will arrange a divine encounter for the fellow. He will work it out in such a way that everyone around him or her will know that He is definitely at work.
Several years ago, I was travelling to llesha, a town in South-West Nigeria. Along the way, I saw a car that seemed to have broken down. As I approached it, I saw that it had an RCCG sticker on it. On taking a closer look, I saw that the person standing beside the car was a church member whom I knew. I also saw that she was pregnant. I asked her, “What’s wrong with your car?” Immediately she saw me, she exclaimed, “Daddy! Is it really you I’m seeing? Oh God!” I asked her again,
“Is there a problem with your car?” She replied, “Sir, don’t worry about the car. I have a bigger problem.” She then went on to tell me that the baby in her womb had not moved for the past six days, and the doctors had told her that they were going to evacuate the baby. After listening to her, I said, “In that case, I decree, baby, come back to life, in Jesus’ name.” Immediately, the baby started moving again. A few years ago, I visited one of our parishes in Europe, and that same baby whom the doctors wanted to evacuate from the woman’s womb was the one playing the drums.
Beloved, I want you to know that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). If you are currently in the midst of a situation that seems hopeless, l want you to put your trust in the One who makes rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). He will bring you out of that hopeless situation and give you victory where defeat seemed certain, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please urn every hopeless situation in my life around for good, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 6-8
Open Heavens HYMN 58: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING ELSE
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 20 APRIL 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 3:3
“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”
This verse reveals three essential roles God plays for His children. He is a shield—protection against attacks. He is our glory—the source of our honor and dignity. And He is the lifter of our heads—the One who restores our hope when we are too discouraged to look up. When you cannot lift your own head, He lifts it for you.
BIBLE READING: John 5:2-9
This passage records the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. This man had been sick for thirty-eight years—a lifetime of infirmity. He lay by a pool that was believed to have healing properties when the water was stirred, but he had no one to help him into the water. Others would step down before him. For thirty-eight years, he watched others receive their healing while he remained trapped in his condition. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew how long he had been sick, He asked a piercing question: “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man didn’t answer with faith; he answered with excuses about having no one to help him. But Jesus bypassed his excuses and spoke the word of command: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” Immediately, the man was healed, took up his bed, and walked. This passage demonstrates that Jesus doesn’t need our faith to be perfect—He needs our situation to be present. He reverses hopelessness by His word alone.
The God Who Lifts Hopeless Heads
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye focuses on one of God’s most beautiful roles: the Lifter of heads that have been bowed too long. When hope is gone, when despair has settled in, when you’ve given up on yourself—that’s exactly when God specializes in showing up.
The Man Who Had Lost Hope
The Bible reading presents a man who had every reason to be hopeless. Thirty-eight years of sickness. Thirty-eight years of lying by a pool, watching others get healed while he remained stuck. Thirty-eight years of having no one to help him. Thirty-eight years of watching someone else step down before him.
By the time Jesus met him, he wasn’t even asking for healing anymore. When Jesus asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?” the man didn’t say, “Yes, Lord, I believe!” He gave excuses. He explained why he couldn’t be healed. He had no one to put him in the pool. Others always got there first. His answer was the answer of a man who had stopped hoping.
But Jesus didn’t need his hope. Jesus didn’t need his faith. Jesus just needed him to be there. And in an instant, thirty-eight years of infirmity ended. The man who couldn’t walk walked. The man who couldn’t hope received his miracle.
This is what our God does. He doesn’t require you to muster up great faith before He moves. Sometimes He moves simply because He sees you and has compassion. Your hopelessness is not a barrier to Him—it’s an invitation.
The Baby Who Stopped Moving
Daddy Adeboye shares a personal testimony that illustrates this truth beautifully. He was travelling to Ilesha when he saw a broken-down car with an RCCG sticker. As he approached, he recognized a pregnant church member standing beside it.
He asked about the car, but she dismissed it: “Sir, don’t worry about the car. I have a bigger problem.” She then revealed that her baby had not moved in her womb for six days. The doctors had told her they would need to evacuate the baby—a euphemism for removing a dead fetus.
Six days of stillness. Six days of knowing something was wrong. Six days of dreading the worst. This woman was in a hopeless situation. Medically, the baby was gone.
Daddy Adeboye didn’t conduct a long prayer session. He didn’t ask her to fast for forty days. He simply spoke: “In that case, I decree, baby, come back to life, in Jesus’ name.”
Immediately, the baby started moving again.
Years later, Daddy Adeboye visited a parish in Europe, and that same baby—the one doctors wanted to evacuate—was the one playing the drums for the church.
Think about this: a dead baby, six days still, became a drummer boy worshipping God in Europe. That’s not just healing—that’s redemption with a purpose. God didn’t just save the baby; He made him a testimony.
What Makes a Situation Hopeless?
The devotional identifies several characteristics of hopeless situations:
- Long Duration: Thirty-eight years. Six days with no movement. When a problem has lasted so long that you’ve stopped expecting change.
- No Human Help: The man had no one to put him in the pool. The woman had doctors who could only offer evacuation, not restoration. When human resources are exhausted.
- Lost Hope: The man made excuses instead of expressing faith. When you’ve stopped asking, stopped believing, stopped expecting.
- Medical Finality: The doctors had pronounced their verdict—evacuation. When experts say there’s nothing more to be done.
If your situation fits any of these descriptions, you are exactly where God loves to work.
God’s Method: Divine Encounter
The devotional emphasizes that when God wants to turn a forsaken person into a living testimony, He arranges a divine encounter.
- The man at Bethesda encountered Jesus at the pool.
- The pregnant woman encountered Daddy Adeboye on the road.
These encounters weren’t coincidences. They were orchestrated by God. He knew where they would be. He knew when they would be there. And He arranged for His power to meet their need.
You may feel forsaken today. You may feel like the world has passed you by. But God hasn’t forgotten you. He is arranging your divine encounter. The question is whether you will be in position when He shows up.
What God Does in Hopeless Situations
- He Visits: The devotional prays, “The Almighty God, who can reverse hopeless situations, will visit you today.” God doesn’t just watch from heaven—He visits. He comes down to your level.
- He Speaks: Jesus spoke to the man: “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” Daddy Adeboye spoke to the baby: “Come back to life.” God’s word carries creative power. When He speaks to your situation, it must obey.
- He Reverses: Thirty-eight years of infirmity reversed in an instant. Six days of death reversed in a moment. God doesn’t just stop the problem—He reverses it completely.
- He Gives Testimony: The healed man walked out carrying his bed. The baby grew up to play drums in Europe. God doesn’t just deliver you—He makes you a demonstration of His power.
How to Position Yourself for Your Encounter
- Stay in the Place of Hope: The man was still at the pool after thirty-eight years. He hadn’t given up showing up. Keep coming to church. Keep praying. Keep believing, even when belief is hard.
- Be Honest About Your Need: The woman didn’t hide her problem. She told Daddy Adeboye the truth. Bring your hopeless situation into the light. Don’t pretend it’s fine.
- Receive the Word: When Jesus spoke, the man had to act. When the decree was made, the baby responded. When God’s word comes to you, receive it and act on it.
- Expect Immediate Change: Both testimonies involved instant reversal. Don’t put God on a timeline. He can do in a moment what you’ve waited decades for.
The God of the Desert River
The devotional quotes Isaiah 43:19: God makes rivers in the desert. A desert is the last place you expect to find a river. It’s dry, barren, lifeless. That’s what makes the miracle so striking.
Your situation may be a desert right now. Dry. Barren. Lifeless. But God specializes in deserts. He makes rivers flow where no water should be. He brings life where death has ruled.
Conclusion: Your Head Is Being Lifted
The memory verse says God is the lifter of your head. If you’ve been walking with your eyes on the ground, weighed down by disappointment and despair, He is about to lift your face.
- Thirty-eight years of sickness ended in a moment.
- Six days of death ended with a word.
- Rags turned to well-dressed in two weeks.
- Empty nets turned to sinking boats.
Your story can be next. The God who visited the man at Bethesda is visiting you. The God who spoke life into a dead baby is speaking over your situation. The God who makes rivers in the desert is making a way for you.
Lift your head. Your help is here.
Pray this:
“Father, I come to You as the Lifter of my head. My situation has gone on too long. Hope has faded. Human help has failed. But You are the God who reverses hopeless situations. Visit me today. Speak to my dead situation. Command life where death has ruled. Make a river in my desert. Turn my mourning into dancing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Name your hopeless situation: Write down the one thing that has made you give up hope. Be specific.
- Stay in position: Keep showing up where God meets His people—church, prayer meetings, Bible study. Your encounter could be today.
- Speak to your situation: Like Daddy Adeboye spoke to the baby, begin to speak God’s word over your hopeless area. Command life to return.
- Prepare your testimony: Start thanking God now for the reversal that is coming. When it happens, you’ll be ready to share it.
Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow
Download Open Heavens 20 April 2026 Devotional PDF
Leave a Reply