Matthew 11: 2-6
As a person who has recently struggled with much discouragement as a result of past hurts in churches, and unemployment, I am thankful Scripture records the discouragement of John the Baptist. This was a lesson I needed to hear this week.
We learn the Jesus freak hero who was the one who proclaimed Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (see John 1:29), started having doubts that Jesus is the Messiah. His faith struggle seems natural to me considering John the Baptist went from the freedom of being in the great outdoors to being confined in a hot, dark, dingy, and stinky prison. And he was probably hungry. Even though Jesus was physically in the world, John’s circumstances were awful. Experiencing despair, John questioned whether Jesus is the Messiah.
I admire John the Baptist’s willingness to admit he may have made a mistake. John had stated: “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). But then at a tragic time, in his heart he was unsure. Yet he was smart to deal with his despair by following-up with Jesus to confirm the truth.
And Jesus answered.
My own personal story here in the period of over one and a half years of this worldwide pandemic: I have been unemployed and church homeless. The synopsis: Worshiping God on many Sunday mornings in such an intimate One on one manner in my room has been awesome. And after 30 years of “going to church,” such a long period of rest has been a blessing. On the flip side, I have missed carrying out my ministry call on Sundays. There have been times of terrible discouragement for me, including when visiting some churches.
Yet God continues to heal me from past church hurts, and God keeps preparing me for my next ministry adventure!
I offer two practical practices which are keys to anyone persevering in walking by faith in Christ:
First, read Scripture daily. Even if it is only one sentence.
Our lives in this world are full of challenging and hurtful experiences. Yet in Scripture, we learn the truth that Jesus was in the flesh here in the world, fully God and fully human. We can listen to His teachings. We can see His actions. We can be encouraged by the truth that Jesus is for real, and that He loves us.
For example, Jesus carried out miraculous healings for people who had diseases, as stated in Matthew 9:35, and as is shown by the witnesses of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But with so many people sick with COVID for over one year and a half, Jesus has not been here physically to heal. Yet I know in my heart that Jesus cares, and that He is offering spiritual healing to anyone right now at this time of worldwide trouble.
And first and foremost, we learn that Jesus’ ministry in Israel for about three years was leading to His ultimate sacrifice on a cross to make salvation and eternal life available to all people. Jesus died as the substitute for the consequence of sins, which is physical and spiritual death. Because of the love of Jesus, physical death in this world is not the end for anyone who gives her or his heart to Him.
Also, we need to stay rooted in Scripture to keep gaining guidance and encouragement from God to live the life Jesus is calling us to live. Loving God and loving people is what we were meant to do. For example, since Jesus cared when people were sick, we should also! Years before the pandemic, it was my conviction some church leaders did a poor job of promoting good health in churches. I have known ministers who served on a Sunday, including serving Communion, when sick. Often this was due to a failure to recognize church work as team work. We should repent of our past mistakes. We Christians should lead the way when it comes to repentance.
Relying on Scripture for an entire lifetime in this world, we can continue to read with our own eyes or hear with our own ears, the teachings and the actions of Jesus our Savior and Lord.
Second, pray daily. Again, being physically separated from Jesus who has ascended to heaven, we can still talk with Him in spirit through the Spirit of Christ. You can talk to God anytime you want. How incredible!
May we be encouraged by this Scripture which reveals even the great John the Baptist doubted the identity of Jesus when suffering in a prison cell. Yet Jesus gave him reason to persevere in faith!
Hunter Irvine
