May 29

Needless Doubts

So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” — Luke 7:19 BSB

John didn’t doubt that Jesus was the Messiah when he baptized Him by the Jordan River, and the heavens opened, revealing the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, along with the voice of the Father in approval. Nor did he doubt during the bright days that followed. It was only when darkness fell on John’s life—when he was imprisoned—that his doubts arose.

This is still true for many people today. When life is bright and easy, they feel confident in their faith, believing that they have found Christ and that He is their friend. But when troubles come, and life becomes difficult, they begin to question whether they ever truly knew Christ. They start to doubt their own experiences of salvation, wondering if they are really Christians or if they need to have another kind of experience. They question why Christ isn’t helping them in the way they expected. When their faith doesn’t seem to support them as they thought it would, they begin to sink into despair, sometimes losing all hope.

But just as John’s doubt was unnecessary, so is all the anxiety we feel in our own times of darkness. Jesus was still the Messiah, even though John’s work was done, and his time of suffering had come. Likewise, Jesus is still our loving Savior, even when we face trials. Of course, we must endure hardships—Jesus never promised us a life free of suffering. We must bear our cross and face difficulties. The key is never to doubt Jesus, no matter what. Even when there are clouds, the sun still shines behind them. Even in our failures and disappointments, Jesus remains the same loving friend.