When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt. 11:3, NIV).  I’ve always thought that verse was one of the saddest in the Bible.  This is the same John who leapt for joy in his mother’s womb (Lk. 1:41,44).  This is the prophet whose preaching paved the way for Christ’s message (Lk 3:15-18).  This is the man who baptized Jesus and declared Him to be the Son of God (Mt. 3:13-17; Jn. 1:34).  Now in a prison cell, John had doubts.  Are you really who you say you are?

My husband and I recently had to say goodbye to a dream we'd been praying about for twelve years, a dream we felt God had placed in our hearts.  Did we wonder if we’d really heard from God?  Yes.  Did we wonder about his goodness?  Definitely.  But through it all, God walked beside us, comforting us and preparing us for something new. 

Jesus answered John’s disciples by pointing to His miracles and declaring, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Mt. 11:6, NIV).  John may have been in prison, but God was still God and he could help John to hold on in the darkest of places. 

Do you need a special measure of faith to hold onto God today?  Reach out to Him and He’ll meet you right where you are, doubts and all.

(N.B. This devotion was first published in Penned from the Heart, Vol. 20, 2014, Son-Rise Publications, New Wilmington, PA, edited by Marilyn Nutter.  It can be reprinted for free.)

Nola Passmore writes fiction, poetry, devotions and creative nonfiction. She and her husband Tim operate a freelance writing and editing business from their home in Queensland, Australia. You can access her weekly writing tips blog at their website: www.thewriteflourish.com