Our salvation is by faith, and by faith we are called to live. Faith seems easy until the fulfillment is slow in coming or isn’t what we expect. For years, John held onto his faith with no evidence seen in his reality. And then, after the fulfillment had come but it didn’t look the way he thought it would, he doubted. When John was locked in prison he questioned Jesus, “Are you really the Messiah?”
All of Israel expected the Messiah to come as a conquering hero and not as the sacrificial lamb. John’s expectation of the Messiah was flawed. He had created an image of God that was not true. He had created an idol.
Idols are dangerous presumptions that keep us from recognizing God’s fulfillment. John couldn’t see that Jesus had come to be so much more than the earthly king they expected. Jesus was building a kingdom that could not be destroyed and would last for eternity. John was in despair because he was looking for God to do something that was so much smaller than what He was actually doing.
If you are disappointed in God’s answers, stop and examine your expectation of God’s character. Is He Sovereign, or is there something that you feel is out of His control? Is He love, or is He caring for you only out of duty? Is He good, or are His actions something less than?
If you find that your image of God has been distorted by the cares of this world, then it is time to turn your back on lies and cling to the truth of who God is by faith. Trust that God is all that He says He is and His plan is so much bigger and better than anything you can imagine.