VERSE:
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
— Matthew 11:2-3

THOUGHT:
Why would John ask “are you the one?” He saw for himself the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove. He heard the audible voice of the Father from Heaven saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). Yet, when faced with his own trials (trials that were brought about by standing for righteousness) John the Baptist doubted, asking “should we expect someone else?” So many times we can go through seasons of confusion when things don’t seem to make sense, and two things usually happen:
1) We forget the times when God showed up miraculously in our lives.
2) We forget that the sufferings of this world are gaining for us an eternal glory.
God promised sufferings in this world, but He also promises that they are nothing compared to the glory that is in store (2 Corinthians 4:17). We are pursuing eternity, not temporal happiness.

APPLICATION:
Don’t fall away on account of suffering. When going through trials of many kinds, build your faith by remembering the times that God intervened in your life, and meditate on the promises that He has established in His word for the future.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, strengthen my faith. Help me to never fall away on account of any light and momentary troubles, understanding that they are gaining for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!