When Doubting
I was reading the passage concerning John the Baptist found in Matthew 11. John was questioning if Jesus was the One who was promised to come. Jesus reassured John with the signs and wonders of what was done. I also heard a sermon recently about the Disciples of Jesus were doubters. I know Thomas was always considered the biggest doubter, but they all doubted. The doubts went away when they had the revelation of the resurrected Jesus. Jesus isn’t thrown off when people doubt. He might have been perplexed at times when the Disciples still doubted, but He didn’t throw up his hands and give up on them.
I think it’s reassuring that all of Jesus’ closest companions doubted. I waver between doubting and revelation. I don’t doubt that Jesus is who He says He is. Sometimes I doubt that He can handle my biggest needs. I guess I doubt He’s big enough. But then I get the revelation, sometimes through signs and wonders; sometimes through His word coming through a simple passage, to turn my doubts to belief. Sometimes I have to see it to believe it as Thomas had to do after Jesus was resurrected. And sometimes, I just have to be reassured through Jesus’ word that what I have seen is truly real like John the Baptist.
For months I prepared for my first mission trip. I experienced moments (or days) of doubting concerning the trip. As I struggled to come to terms of my doubting, I have followed John the Baptist’s example and brought my concerns to Jesus. He listened to my questioning, and He reassured me I was going as His hands and feet. I did what He asked me to do, which was to go. I took the steps of obedience and believed He was going with me. And He did. Everything done was because of Him. His strength, His protection, His provision. I knew nothing and did nothing on my own.
I have been called to go. John was called to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. As I was thinking about this statement, it occurred to me we are all called to prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus. We are called to go and prepare others for Jesus. He is coming back one day. Maybe His coming will happen in my lifetime, maybe not. But we are to be prepared as if He’s coming today. If He’s coming today, am I ready to see Him? Am I working to prepare others to see Him? That’s what we’re all called to do. My first mission trip was successful because I was prepared to go – spiritually.
Yes, I have had many a doubt, but that hasn’t stopped me from preparing to see Jesus do some wonderful work! It’s for His glory alone!
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:17-20
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