“And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Luke 7:19 ESV).
In this passage, Luke wrote about a moment in the life of John the Baptist while he was imprisoned under Herod Antipas (Luke 3:19–20). After hearing reports about Jesus’ ministry, John sent messengers to ask whether Jesus was truly the expected Messiah. This question did not signal that John had abandoned his faith. Rather, it revealed a human moment of confusion shaped by suffering and limitation. From prison, John could not see clearly what Jesus was doing, and perhaps the unfolding of God’s plan did not fully match his earlier expectations of immediate judgment and deliverance. His question reflected the tension between expectation and fulfillment and the struggle of faith when God’s purposes unfold differently than anticipated. Jesus responded with gentleness, pointing John’s disciples to visible evidence of His works that fulfilled the promises spoken in Isaiah. Then Jesus publicly affirmed John as the greatest prophet up to that time, showing that this question did not diminish John’s calling or faithfulness.
When we walk through seasons of suffering, confusion can cloud our understanding just as it did for John. Yet doubt is not the opposite of faith. Unbelief is. Faith can ask honest questions while still clinging to Christ. When our expectations do not align with God’s timing or methods, we can come to Jesus just as John did. He does not turn us away. Instead, He gently reminds us of who He is and what He has done. He meets us with truth, reassurance, and grace.
We may find ourselves worrying about God’s timing or whether a season of difficulty will resolve. We may even question where God is during those times. Yet in those moments, we can hold fast, trusting that Jesus is faithful even when we do not fully understand.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You acknowledging that we sometimes struggle to understand Your ways. In seasons of hardship, help us to bring our questions honestly before You without letting go of our faith. Strengthen us to trust Your timing and Your purposes. Remind us through Your Word that Jesus is the One who fulfills every promise. In Jesus’ name, amen.