Monday, August 17, 2026
Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.” Matthew 11:2-6
When Doubt Comes Our Way
When was the last time you doubted or had trouble believing someone would do what they said they would do? Everyone struggles with doubt sometimes. The way we handle our doubt is the key to whether we let it strengthen our faith or live captive to doubt. As believers we still may struggle with doubt at times, even though we may not like to admit it because we think it makes us look like we have weak faith, or it is a sin to doubt. Yesterday in the sermon Pastor Jim told us that doubting is not sin, but living captive to doubt that leads us to unrepentance and falling away from Jesus is. Over the course of the Come and See series we have seen several examples in the Bible where Jesus bids us to come and see the truth found in him. That truth found in him is the foundation of our faith and it is what brings us back from doubt to truth every time. When we turn our focus back to Jesus and remember his faithfulness and how he has proven himself in our lives over and over we are reminded of the truth of who he is.
John the Baptist, who was Jesus’ cousin, was in jail for criticizing Herod. He had spent his adult life preparing the way for Jesus, proclaiming that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. But while he was in prison, he sent Jesus a message asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? John is having a moment of clarifying doubt, not rejecting Jesus, but a desire to clarify that Jesus is who he know and believes him to be.
Jesus pointed to his Father and what he was doing through him. Blind were receiving sight, those who were lame were walking, those with leprosy were cleansed, the deaf could hear, the dead raised, and the poor given good news. Just a few things that Jesus had done, but overwhelming evidence that he was indeed the long awaited Messiah. Evidence supported by eyewitness accounts. He was reminding John that God’s promises were being fulfilled, even if it looked different that John thought it would.
Here are some points Pastor Jim gave us yesterday on doubt:
1. Doubt is a normal part of faith. We can be faithful followers of God and still have questions. We can still wonder, struggle, and sometimes even feel like God has left us.
Why do we doubt?
The lack of knowing or understanding God’s word – do we pull tidbits out of stories we think we know well and not pay attention to details. - Do we pull tidbits out of “familiar” stories in the Bible of which we don’t really understand the deeper meaning?
Battle between our will and God’s will - are you truly surrendered?
We don’t see God working in our circumstances. Where are you God? Why haven’t you fixed this? Don’t you care?
The Headlight Principle: we only see what is right in front of us.
2. Doubt is answered in Jesus. Clarify your doubt by asking the question “Who is Jesus? Who is he to you and what has he done in your life in the past? When you don’t feel it you must remind yourself of the truth of who Jesus is and his faithfulness.
3. Doubt does not disqualify us. When we doubt Jesus does not turn us away. We are called to live in a healthy theology of doubt - when we lack wisdom we are to go to God in faith asking for wisdom. The Holy Spirit walks with us through our doubt and helps us to find our way back to the truth.
How do you handle doubt? Dont’ avoid doubt, which could lead to spiritual stagnation. Don’t give in to doubt, which could lead to spiritual stagnation. Instead do these things:
- List out your doubts or questions.
- Pray about your doubt.
- Get help.
- Take a step of faith.
Faith must be personal; it is about your relationship with Jesus and staying in close proximity with the Savior helps us to turn to him instead of away when we doubt. It comes from a deep intimate relationship with him that leaves us knowing him in a different way. We forget those ways he has proved himself in our lives when we are in the middle of hard circumstances. Jesus reminds John of the things that have happened that only his Father could do. How has he proven himself over and over again in your life? What are the things that have happened in your life that you know could only be the work of the Father? It is there if we look for it and choose to remember it.
