DOUBT

From Herod’s prison: “(John the Baptist) sent (two of his disciples) to ask the Lord, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’” Luke 7:18 NIV

Just a few weeks earlier (Luke 3) John saw Jesus coming towards him on the banks of the Jordan River and boldly proclaimed to the masses without hesitation, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) That same day, John saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus in the form of a dove. He heard the voice of God declare, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” But now he’s having second thoughts.

Sitting in a prison cell will do that to you. It’s easy to have faith when the crowd is cheering, the Holy Spirit is moving and the voice of God is speaking. But when you’re alone in the dark and God is silent, that’s when the doubts come: “God, where are you? What’s going on? Why are you allowing this to happen to me?”

Jesus tells John’s disciples to go back and tell him, “The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the Good News is preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:22) In other words, “I’m everything you said and believed I was…and more!” Then Jesus says to the crowd, “I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John.” (Luke 7:28)

Wow. The greatest man (according to Jesus) that ever lived, the spiritual leader whose life’s calling was to “prepare the way for the Lord” struggled with doubt. When you doubt, you’re in good company! And so, like John: when the dark days come, and the tears fall and you think, “Jesus, are you who I thought you were?” Hang in there. And (I wish I could tell you when, but I promise), there will be a divine moment when Jesus comes to you with proof that He was – and is – everything you believed He was…and more!