Doubting God in the Darkნიმუში

Before you begin this reading plan, I want to encourage you to pause and think about a season in your life when God felt so close, His promises seemed clear, and faith just came easy. Now, imagine a season where He challenged you to step out in faith, or maybe God seemed distant, and you found yourself asking hard questions.

This is where John the Baptist found himself at one point. He had preached that Jesus was the Messiah, the One he had prepared the way for, but inside the walls of the prison, doubt crept into his heart (John 1:29). As the doubt strengthened in John, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the One, or should we look for another" (Matthew 11:2-3)?

If you find yourself in a dark season, I want to encourage you to reflect on John's situation. If doubt can find its way into the heart of a prophet who once heard God so clearly, it is natural that it can find its way into ours. However, what I want to remind you is that just because there is doubt, it doesn't mean you no longer trust God. Doubt is not the enemy of faith; unbelief is.

A good example of this is seen in the story of Job. While Job was suffering he could not perceive God’s presence, but even still he chose to declare, “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:8–10).

In other words, it's important to remember that doubt still searches for the light, but unbelief refuses it. When we look back to Jesus's actions at the moment that He was presented with John's doubts, Jesus didn’t scold him or get angry at John. Instead, He told John’s disciples, “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5).

In the same way, I believe that when you are in your dark moments, the key to getting out is to remember what God has already shown you in the light and to look again for His hand at work, even if it’s not in your own circumstances just yet.

Today's Challenge: Write down one promise God has given you, whether from His Word or a moment in prayer, and place it somewhere you will see it daily this week.

Let's Pray: Lord, help me remember what You’ve said, even when I can’t see the way forward. Strengthen my faith to trust that You are still working in the dark.