When Faith is Tested

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see. (Matthew 11:1-4)

John the Baptist was the forerunner, the voice in the wilderness, the man who saw heaven open when he baptized Jesus, and the man who boldly declared that Jesus was the “Lamb of God” and “the Son of God.” Yet, in prison, he asked if Jesus was really “the One.” Something obviously happened to John. What changed? Not Jesus, nor His words or ministry. It was simply John’s circumstances that changed. This is what darkness can do. Pressure can distort your perspective and cloud your clarity. Affliction can make yesterday’s absolute faith feel like today’s question.

Matthew 11 occurred months after John was first imprisoned. The prophet who once stood waist-deep in baptismal waters was sitting in a small, dark cell. Pressure, isolation, fear, and delay can make even the strongest believer doubt whether they heard God correctly. It’s not wrong to turn to God with our doubts or to ask Him to clarify what He has said. When Jesus heard John's words, He didn’t criticize him; instead, He said, “Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see.” Why again? Because Jesus knew this wasn’t John's lack of faith. John had seen the miracles. He had witnessed the wonders. Jesus understood that this was a moment of discouragement and spiritual exhaustion, and John needed to be reminded that he had seen Jesus’ glory with his own eyes. When you face difficulty and pressure, bring your worries and questions to Jesus and let Him remind you of who He is.

Practical Application

If you feel discouraged or start to doubt what God is doing, speak out loud what you know God has done, not what you feel in the moment. Remind yourself how He has shown up and the miracles He has already performed in your life.

Matthew 14:3; Matthew 4:12