Luke 7:18-19
And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
It’s surprising to see John the Baptist—a man of unwavering strength and boldness—experiencing doubt. This was the same John who led multitudes to Christ and pointed his own disciples toward Jesus. Yet, even he wasn’t immune to moments of uncertainty. If John, this great prophet, wrestled with doubt, then we as believers shouldn’t be shocked when we encounter doubts ourselves.
When doubt enters our minds, the enemy often seizes the opportunity to accuse us, suggesting that we are weak and unworthy. He first tempts us with questions, then mocks us for faltering. Yet, notice that Jesus didn’t respond to John’s doubt with rebuke. Instead, He stopped to tell the crowd, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John.” If Jesus could be so compassionate toward John in his time of struggle, then surely He will be just as kind to us. In my own seasons of doubt, I’ve found Him to be gentle and understanding, patiently pointing me back to His promises. Oh, what a Savior!
Why Do Christians Doubt?
So what led John, this steadfast prophet, to question Jesus? We’re told, “The disciples of John shewed him of all these things.” They had brought him news of Jesus raising a widow’s son and healing a servant. But for John, these events didn’t fit his understanding of the Messiah’s mission. He had expected Jesus to restore Israel’s glory and liberate His people—a belief grounded in truth, but not in God’s timing. It seemed to John that Jesus might be distracted from His true calling.
For many believers, doubt often arises when Jesus doesn’t act as we think He should or on our timetable. We might expect God to quickly solve our problems or remove our hardships, yet He often works in ways beyond our understanding. We might wonder, “If He’s the Prince of Peace, why am I anxious?” or “If He’s Almighty, why do I feel so weak?” When prayers go unanswered or thorns remain, doubt can
creep in.
How Jesus Reassured John
In this crisis, Jesus reassured John by pointing to God’s promises. His miracles weren’t simply displays of power but were also fulfillments of Isaiah’s prophecies, affirming that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. He didn’t go to visit John personally but sent a message that confirmed His identity through Scripture.
When we doubt, the Lord often brings us back to His Word, reminding us of truths we may have forgotten. Like a fever breaking, our assurance returns as we remember who He is and what He has promised. Jesus operates on His terms, not ours, and if His plan looks different from what we imagined, we can trust He knows what He’s doing.
I’ll leave you with Jesus’ final words to John: “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” These words were enough to assure John, even as he faced a horrible death. And so, dear Christian, when doubts arise, remember that Jesus’ plan may look very different from what you imagined. But once you’re assured of who He is, doubts about what He does will disappear.
Oh, Lord help my unbelief!