Articles
Wait, I Thought ...
Sometimes reality clashes with our expectations. When that happens we can be shaken to the core. Such a moment occurred in the life of John the Baptist during his imprisonment by Herod. Languishing in prison, perhaps not seeing events develop in the way or at the pace he may have expected, he sent two disciples to Jesus enquiring, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Mt 11:2-3). What an odd question for the one who earlier said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29) and who spoke repeatedly of the greatness of the one coming after him (Mt 3:10-12; Jn 1:26-27; 3:28-31).
This shows how confusing life can be. Just when you think you have things figured out someone changes the rules.
Jesus’ response to the messengers is instructive: “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up …” (Mt 11:4-5). Jesus encouraged John to consider the evidence and trust the conclusion to which it led, whether or not he could make sense of the process itself.
Often, we have in mind how we think something should be. Since we think it is so, we assume God thinks so, too! God already set us straight on that point: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Is 55:8).
Our faith should not be based upon the situation but upon evidence that a loving, competent, responsive God is overseeing our life regardless of how things appear at any particular moment of time. What comfort! What assurance! What strength!
