Finding Faith in Doubt: Lessons from John the Baptist

Jul 19, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Leaning into the Harness When the Platform Shakes

When life’s circumstances shift beneath our feet, doubt often rises like a sudden drop. Just as the ropes course harness held securely even when the platform felt unstable, God’s faithfulness remains steadfast when trials destabilize us. Jesus didn’t rebuke John for his prison-cell questions but reminded him of evidence already seen: healing, resurrection, and grace. Trust grows not by avoiding the fall but by recalling who engineered the safety net. The same God who calmed storms still steadies shaking hearts. [23:17]

“And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.’”
(Luke 7:22, ESV)

Reflection: What “platform” in your life feels unstable right now? How might focusing on God’s past faithfulness steady your trust in His unchanging character?

Day 2: Asking “Are You the One?” from a Prison Cell

Doubt thrives in confined spaces. John, imprisoned for confronting corruption, voiced raw questions to Jesus: “Are you the one?” His struggle mirrors ours when suffering clouds clarity. Jesus didn’t dismiss John’s ache but redirected him to the miracles already witnessed—the blind seeing, the dead rising. Honest doubt, when brought to Christ, becomes a doorway to deeper assurance. Even in chains, John’s faith wasn’t failure but a fight. [30:00]

“The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”
(Luke 7:18–19, ESV)

Reflection: When have your circumstances made you question God’s presence? How can you bring those doubts to Him without shame today?

Day 3: Echoes of Sight to the Blind: Remembering What We Already Know

Jesus’ reply to John wasn’t new information but a rehearsal of miracles John’s disciples had already reported. Sometimes faith falters not from lack of evidence but forgetfulness. Like the Israelites building stone memorials, we need tangible reminders—prayer journals, shared stories, communion—to anchor us when waves of uncertainty rise. What we’ve witnessed of God’s goodness is still true, even when prison walls obscure the view. [36:16]

“And when the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”’ In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.”
(Luke 7:20–21, ESV)

Reflection: What “stone memorial” (a story, verse, or memory) can you revisit this week to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness?

Day 4: Monuments in the Wilderness: Stacking Stones of Remembrance

God instructed Israel to stack rocks after crossing the Jordan—a tactile reminder of His deliverance. Similarly, Jesus invited John to rehearse the miracles as spiritual markers. Our doubt often melts when we recount specific moments God intervened: a healed relationship, provision in lack, peace amid chaos. Collect these stones. Share them with others. They become a trail leading back to trust. [38:23]

“When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, “Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan…” that this may be a sign among you.’”
(Joshua 4:1–6, ESV)

Reflection: What “stone” from your past can you name aloud today as a declaration of God’s faithfulness to someone else?

Day 5: Flutes Unplayed: When Hearts Refuse to Dance or Mourn

Jesus compared stubborn hearts to children who reject both celebratory flutes and funeral dirges. Unlike John, who sought answers, the religious leaders dismissed Jesus because He didn’t fit their expectations. Doubt that seeks truth is holy; skepticism that demands God conform to our preferences is a dead end. Faith requires letting God define Himself, even when His ways confuse us. [54:00]

“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’”
(Luke 7:31–32, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas where you’ve resisted God because He didn’t meet your expectations? How might surrendering those assumptions deepen your trust?

Sermon Summary

Luke 7 places John the Baptist in a prison cell with a question that feels surprising at first: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” John is not some random skeptic. John is the wild prophet from the wilderness, the camel-hair-wearing, bug-eating preacher of repentance, the one who pointed at Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

The ropes course image helps frame the struggle. The harness did not change when a person stood on the ground or stood high up on “the screamer.” The cables were just as strong. The only thing that changed was the circumstance. Faith often works that way. God has not changed, but suffering, disappointment, unanswered prayer, financial stress, grief, or fear can make a person ask questions that were not being asked when life was “all gravy.”

John’s disciples report Jesus’ miracles to him, and John sends them back with his question. Jesus does not give a cold lecture. Jesus heals, restores sight, cleanses lepers, raises the dead, and sends the messengers back with what John already knows. Jesus reminds John. The blind see, the lame walk, the poor hear good news. Sometimes faith needs fresh courage from old truth.

Remembrance becomes a big part of the answer. Israel had piles of rocks to remember God’s protection and promises. Communion works the same way, putting bread and cup in the hands of people who may have wondered, “Does God even love me?” Stories of God’s work in other people’s lives can also become little monuments, reminders that God is present and good.

Jesus adds, “Blessed is the man who is not offended by me,” or the one who does not fall away on account of him. Jesus does not promise John a quick release from prison. In fact, John’s circumstances will get worse. The blessing is not found in getting every answer or escaping every sorrow. The blessing is found in continuing to cling to Jesus when everything inside wants to quit.

Jesus then honors John after the messengers leave. John is not “a reed shaken by the wind.” John stood firm, told the truth, and refused to bend, even before Herod. Yet the same man who stood boldly also wrestled honestly. A moment of doubt did not erase a lifetime of obedience.

Jesus finally exposes the difference between honest doubt and hardened unbelief. John brings questions to Jesus. The Pharisees keep finding excuses to reject him. The issue is not always lack of evidence. Sometimes the obstacle is a heart that has already decided what God must be like.

Key Takeaways

1. Circumstances can make trust tremble Faith can feel steady on the ground and shaky at the edge of the platform. The strength of God has not changed when life becomes frightening, but changed circumstances can make already-trusted truth feel suddenly uncertain. Doubt often reveals not that God has become unreliable, but that fear has made the soul feel the height. [23:17]
2. Jesus answers doubt with remembrance Jesus sends John’s disciples back with signs John had already heard about: blind eyes opened, lame legs walking, dead people raised, and good news preached. The answer is not always brand-new information. Sometimes mercy comes as a reminder of what the heart already knows but can no longer feel clearly. [36:16]
3. Honest questions belong with Jesus John’s doubt does not drive him away from Jesus. John sends the question straight to the only one who can answer it. Honest doubt remains humble enough to come near, while unbelief often stays at a distance and calls that distance wisdom. [46:03]
4. A moment does not erase faithfulness Jesus does not shame John after his question. Jesus honors him as more than a prophet and says none born of women is greater than John. A season of wrestling can be real without becoming the final word over a life of obedience. [49:38]
5. Hard hearts demand a custom god John’s strict life was rejected, and Jesus’ gracious table fellowship was rejected too. The problem was not the form of the messenger, but hearts that had already decided not to believe. A person can keep asking God for different evidence while actually demanding a different God.

## [54:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:30] - The Ropes Course and the Screamer
[23:17] - Circumstances Can Stir Up Doubt
[26:42] - John the Baptist and His Question
[31:02] - John’s Prison Cell Discouragement
[34:46] - Jesus Sends Back the Evidence
[36:16] - Faith Needs Reminders
[38:23] - Rocks, Communion, and Remembering
[41:41] - Reminding Others of God’s Goodness
[42:01] - Blessed If You Do Not Fall Away
[45:24] - Jesus Honors John’s Faithfulness
[50:37] - Least in the Kingdom, Greater Than John
[53:15] - Honest Doubt Versus Hardened Unbelief
[56:45] - Bring Doubts to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 7:18-28
“The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And when the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"’ In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’ When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you." I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’” [17:55]

Isaiah 35:5-6
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;”

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.”

Matthew 11:11
“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Observation questions

In Luke 7, what question does John send to Jesus, and what does Jesus tell John’s disciples to report back? [34:46]
What kinds of miracles does Jesus point to as evidence of who he is, and how do those connect with Isaiah 35:5-6?
When Jesus speaks to the crowd about John, what images does he use—a reed, soft clothing, a prophet—and what do those images show about John’s character? [44:45]
What are some concrete ways people can remember God’s faithfulness when doubt starts creeping in? [38:23]

Interpretation questions

John already knew a great deal about Jesus, yet he still asked, “Are you the one?” What does that suggest about the way suffering and disappointment can affect a believer’s confidence? [31:02]
Jesus does not give John a quick escape from prison. Instead, he gives signs and says, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” What does that reveal about the kind of blessing Jesus offers in hard seasons? [42:01]
Jesus honors John after John’s question rather than shaming him. What does that show about the difference between honest doubt and abandoning faith? [46:03]
Jesus contrasts John with people who rejected both John and Jesus for opposite reasons. How can a person appear to be asking for truth while actually resisting God because God is not meeting personal expectations? [53:15]

Application questions

What circumstances right now feel like standing on the edge of the platform for you—grief, stress, unanswered prayer, fear, disappointment? How have those pressures affected the questions you are asking God? [23:17]
When doubt or discouragement shows up, what tends to happen first in your heart—do you move toward Jesus with questions, or away from him in silence? What would it look like to bring those questions to him more honestly this week? [56:45]
Faith often needs reminders, not just new information. What are a few specific reminders that help you remember God’s goodness—communion, Scripture, answered-prayer journals, stories from other believers, something else? Which one do you need to return to? [36:16]
Jesus’ words to John make room for a hard truth: circumstances may not improve quickly. Where might Jesus be asking you to keep clinging to him even without a neat answer or fast rescue? [44:03]
A moment of doubt does not erase a lifetime of faithfulness. Is there a part of your story where you have been letting shame speak louder than grace? What would it look like to receive Jesus’ kindness there instead of hiding? [49:38]
Other people often need reminders too. Who in your life may need encouragement about God’s goodness right now, and what is one simple way you could reach out this week? [41:41]
Hardened unbelief often insists that God must act a certain way before trust is given. Are there expectations you have placed on God that may be quietly shaping your willingness to trust him? How can you tell the difference between a sincere question and a demand for a custom-made god? [54:40]

Sermon Clips

60s

#FaithWhenLifeIsHard

“``Maybe you're wondering why is God so silent, or why is he not working the way you expect him to? And through my own experiences in life, I've realized that Jesus doesn't always explain our circumstances. He doesn't always remove our suffering, but he does call us to remain faithful. The blessing he offers to John and to you isn't found in having all the answers. The blessing is found in continuing to trust Jesus when things are difficult. Like faith, I don't think it's usually proven when life is really easy. Real faith, true faith is revealed when everything in you wants to quit. But you keep clinging to Jesus because you know that even if you don't understand what he's doing, you know who he is.”

60s

#BringDoubtsToJesus

“The question I have, from this passage is really, what kind of person are you guys becoming? Are we the kind of person who, like John, will bring our doubts to Jesus? Or are we becoming the kind of person who finds reasons to dismiss him because he isn't acting the way that we expect him to? Following Jesus doesn't mean that we will never have questions. It means that when we have questions, we know where to take them. Bring your doubts to Jesus. Bring your fears to Jesus. Bring your disappointments to him, but keep coming to him. Because the same Jesus who gave John reassurance in the prison cell is the same Jesus who will meet us where we are today.”

46s

#DoubtDoesntEraseObedience

“And a moment of doubt did not did not erase a lifetime of obedience. And I think some of you need to hear that today. A season of questions does not mean you have no faith. There are people who love Jesus deeply, who've walked through moments where they've wondered, where are you? Why haven't you answered? Why isn't this happening the way I thought it would? Jesus is not scared of those questions. Bring them to him.”

69s

#OpenHeartOverClosedMind

“Sometimes the the absolute biggest obstacle between us and God isn't a lack of evidence. It's that we've already decided what we want God to be like. It's people saying, I will believe in God and this Jesus if they match how I think they should be. Otherwise, I'm out. And that's the difference between John and the Pharisees, what Jesus is comparing here. John has these questions, but he keeps coming to Jesus. And the Pharisees, they thought they had all the answers, but they kept themselves away from Jesus. John here is wrestling with doubt, but he remains humble. And the Pharisees were confident, but they are closed off. I believe that God can work with someone who comes to him with questions. But a person who refuses to listen because they've already made up their mind is much harder to reach.”

58s

#JesusHonorsHonestQuestions

“After John's disciples leave, Jesus does something which I find pretty interesting. He doesn't turn to the crowd and say, can you believe John? Right? The guy who baptized me is sitting in prison questioning whether I'm the Messiah. He doesn't embarrass John. He doesn't expose his doubts. Instead, Jesus honors him. And I think that's important for us to see about Jesus. Jesus is not threatened by our questions. Like, doesn't throw away faithful people because they walk through seasons of uncertainty. There is a difference between somebody who has honest questions and someone who has a hardened heart. John had questions, but he brings those questions to Jesus.”

37s

#GreatnessOfJohn

“And yet, here's what's so encouraging about John the Baptist. The same man who stood boldly before crowds and the king is the same man who found himself wrestling with doubt in a prison cell. And Jesus didn't look at John and say, I can't believe you questioned me after everything you've seen. Instead, Jesus says, among those born of women, none is greater than John.”

42s

#TrustDespiteSuffering

“Why is Jesus saying that? Well, what happens to John not long after this message? It's not long after this that the king beheads him. He kills him. Things are not going to get easier for John. They're actually gonna get much worse, like as as worse as they can get. Jesus doesn't promise to get him out of prison. Right? He doesn't say, hang in there, John. You're gonna get released on Friday. Instead, he ends with an encouragement that John will be blessed if he continues to trust him, even through the hardship.”

80s

#CircumstancesTestFaith

“The thing is, right, nothing really changed about the safety system when they were on the ground or when they were up there on the you know, strapped into the screamer. The harness was just as secure as it had been on the ground. The cables were just as strong. The only thing that had changed was their circumstances. Right? Standing 50 feet in the air made them question what their what they had already trusted just a few minutes before. Now I know this is not a perfect analogy, but I think it works here. I do think this is how faith works sometimes. We don't usually doubt God when life is comfortable, when life is easy, when life is all gravy. But when life becomes more of a struggle, the doubts about God come creeping in. When the marriage is difficult, when we lose the job, when the prayers seem unanswered, suddenly, we begin asking questions we weren't asking before. Not because God has changed, because God is unchanging, but because our circumstances have changed.”

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