In the Middle Between Disappointment and Despair

 "Are you the One to come, or should we look for another?"

-John the Baptist-

(Luke 7:19)

There he sat.

Imprisoned in Herod's cruel confines, John waited with uncertainty. Who knew with Herod what John's upcoming fate might be? 

Twiddling his thumbs, he had nothing but time on his hands, as he looked back at this life God ordained for him, and wondered at what the future held.

This wasn't what he'd expected, nor how he'd imagined the end of it all.

So, as I looked deeply at this picture, the furrowed brow, the dark eyes squinting (as if trying to foresee the future), I find myself deeply comforted (of course, the cross made by the iron bars in each of the corners also helps). 

However, I imagine if we interviewed John right now, he'd assure us that he's glad to bring us a measure of comfort, hope, maybe even joy as his weakness is unveiled in Scripture.

It makes me think of the Apostle Paul and these words from him:

If you're like me, the last thing you want to brag about are your weaknesses...

Paul (and John the Baptist) disagree.

For it is in our greatest weakness that the power of our Savior is revealed to all mankind.

He shows Himself off best when we are not strong (so we CAN'T brag, in and of ourselves).

In the Luke 7 passage (in fact, go and read verses 18-35), John's wondering about his lot in life...and, his disappointment has led to doubt. 

Doubt lies half-way on a dangerous journey toward despair. 

Disappointment leads to discouragement.

Discouragement leads to doubt.

Doubt to distrust.

Distrust to depression.

Depression to despair.

Despair is the bottom of the barrel. 

It's where suicide generally finds us. 

We are all like John (after all, his human existence puts us in the same club, where it is easy for doubt to find us). This is what I find most comforting. Even the prophet Elijah, whom John often imitated, found himself on the journey toward despair (again, a comfort...we aren't alone!). 

It's not sin to doubt; the sin comes when we allow ourselves to wallow...

The goal, of course, is to deal with disappointment and discouragement before we ever get to doubt, but doubt is subtle and creeps up on us before we even know it.

So, even though John's disciples are reporting on the amazing ministry of Jesus (they'd just returned rejoicing in the healing of a soldier's son and a widow's son - the latter from death to life), his heart needed something more. He wanted confirmation from the One that he's declared to be "The Lamb of God," Himself.

Two of his disciples went to Jesus with John's question.

Jesus does just what we'd expect.

He rebukes John, scolds him for his unbelieving heart, and tells the disciples to go back to their rabbi and say, "Buck up, Buttercup! Remember how you leapt for joy at my arrival before you were even born? Of course I'm the ONE!"

Nope!

That's not what I read in the Scriptures.

Jesus responds with patience, kindness and a WORD OF TRUTH...

...That WORD came directly from Isaiah (chapter 35): 

That is all it took to turn John's journey back to one of hope and joy - one prophecy fulfilled, one good word spoken, one truth to remind him all was not in vain.

The comfort I receive abounds when I remember, 1) I am not unlike the one who Jesus declared to be the "greatest" of those born among women (Luke 7:28) - - - if we are human, we will doubt from time to time; and, 2) at any time on the spiral downward to despair, I can stop that Merry-go-round with a Word from the Lord found in His Holy Scriptures. 

Instead of wallowing in my own little pity-party, I can make a choice to start the climb out of the pit, one rung at a time, as I dwell on the TRUTH, and renew my mind. 

ANOTHER TRUTH IS: maybe somewhere in the middle, between someone else's disappointment and despair, we will be able to offer the same kind of comfort with which we have been comforted!

Thank you, John!