Help For The DiscouragedSample

We find John in the dungeon (Matthew 11) sending his disciples to Jesus. He wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah.

Is he serious? This IS John the Baptist, isn’t it? Here is the PILLAR of a man who, a few chapters ago, was declaring that Jesus was The Guy. His whole life pointed toward it. John KNEW he was right and found great joy in proclaiming this truth. 

What in the world is going on?

The same thing that goes on with you and me.

You and I can have our own dungeon experiences.

John is discouraged. His faithfulness had landed him in prison where he can’t draw crowds to “prepare the way” or “turn Israel from their sin.” No one can “make straight the path” when they are sitting in the dark. This is NOT what he imagined for his life. And he is alone.

It’s when you and I are alone that Satan takes great opportunity. Your mind begins to entertain thoughts that on a good hair day, when your skinny jeans fit just right, you’d NEVER allow. For John, that’s when people were repenting. Hearts were changing. Ministry was flourishing. Those kind of negative thoughts are quickly passed over.

But not in the dark. Not in the flea-infested, filth-infused dungeons we sometimes find ourselves within. You don’t dismiss those thoughts when all hope is nearly gone. You can’t extinguish them when what you thought were God’s instructions for your life seem more like something you constructed mentally. Maybe you never heard Him at all. Then everything you thought you believed with your whole life becomes cloudy.

This is where we find our POWERHOUSE John the Baptist. He wants a STRAIGHT UP answer from Jesus. 

“ARE YOU THE ONE?” 

There are times when we find ourselves in such a state of discouragement we question the very person of Christ and His presence or direction in our lives. If John can find himself here, you and I can maneuver our way into the wilderness of doubt in half the time. 

Let’s learn from John two things:

1. Go straight to Jesus in your doubt and discouragement. This is the key for all suffering. 

2. Don’t be afraid to ask Jesus the hard question and wait for the response. John needed answers, direction, and his hope restored, just like you. Jesus will keep you from falling.