I have a great friend that gave me a significant word yesterday. It was from Matthew 11:1-6.
There have been days here and there where you know that you know that you know that you are doing exactly what Jesus wants you to be doing. There are peaks and valleys but despite it all, you just know. But every once and a while you get a creeper of a day where you say... Oh Jesus, just remind me why I'm here. I want to do your work and your will but I just want to know that I'm going the right direction.
To me, that's how John the Baptist was feeling. He preached the word, traveled all over declaring the truth of Jesus as the messiah, he even baptized Him. Then John rebuked a powerful leader of the time and landing himself in prison. He was only doing what he thought was right at that moment. And so he was sitting in prison waiting, I'm sure stirring, maybe even feeling frustrated... maybe even saying to himself "surely this isn't what God intended." Even after all he'd preached and experienced with Jesus. As he waited in prison, he heard that Jesus was near and he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?"(NIV)
Maybe at times you've found yourself in something that feels like a prison. Your following what you know to be God's will and it lands you in a place, a situation, a hardship or a season in life that you just didn't quite expect... nor would you have selected it on your best day. But here you are in this moment knowing that your following what God intended...maybe questioning your choices, your calling, your future based on prison you've found yourself in.
As the men approached and asked Jesus, His response was, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see...(6) blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." It's good to know that even when the most beloved of Jesus had a moment of fear, uncertainty, he was still loved. He was still lifted. As John's disciples were leaving Jesus spoke to the crowd regarding John and He lifted him. Even in the midst of doubt.
If you are struggling today, doubting for whatever reason. Know that if the most beloved of Jesus could have a moment similar to yours as he sat in prison not knowing that he was about to be beheaded. He just had to trust that the Lord had it under control. Although he was beheaded and it might not seem to us that it was under control. It was all part of a bigger picture that we can't see yet.
Remember the testimonies of what you've seen when the doubt creeps into your heart and mind and then...
Steady the course... run the race... cross the finish line.
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