So That We May Believe

I hate to admit it, the McNeilly's are yellers. Not the angry kind of yellers, but the "You're at the other end of the house and I have something to tell you" kind of yellers. I have tried everything in my power to get this family into the practice of walking across the room before speaking and have failed. I have resigned myself to house of loud boys. It is inevitable that someone will yell from the bathroom, "Mom!!! I forgot my underwear!" or "Mom!! I can't find my shoes!" My all time favorite is when I've just closed MY shower door and their lips are smooshed against the door trying to tell me something. Sorry pal, you're out of luck. In most cases before I can even make it down the hallway to assist, they are yelling again, "Moooom!!" What they fail to realize is the fact that I am on the move, getting them what they need. They can't hear me because of their yelling and they can't see me because they're in another room.

Ever fell like that with God? Like your prayers are at the other end of eternity and He's just not hearing you? Maybe you're not yelling, but maybe you are. I have. I have had my pleas turn to desperate calls for help. Some days I feel like my face is smooshed up against a cold hard door and nobody can hear me on the other side. And that's why I love story of John the Baptist in Matthew 11:2-6. We find John in the bottom of a dank & dark prison cell. He was there for boldly pointing out the sin of King Herod. A week passed and then another. Who knows how much time transpired before he started to worry. A few chapters earlier he baptized the Son of God and was probably hoping for a miracle. But Jesus didn't come. And so, John sent word with a question, "Are you the Coming One, or should we look for another?"

What?!!! How could this wild & dauntless prophet forget the voice of God proclaiming His favor over Jesus as He rose up out of the Jordan? He saw the heavens open up and the Spirit of God descend. How could he question his faith? Even a man with the mighty credentials of John the Baptist had to ask, "Are you the One?"

I am no where near as valiant and courageous as John, but we have this in common...I sometimes question the Lord, "How?" and "Why?" and "When?".

Jesus sent John an answer in verse 4 and 5; "Go and report to John what you see and hear: the blind receive sight, 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." Did you catch that? Someone had to go tell John what was going on. John was "in another room" and couldn't see that Jesus was on the move.

When we can't see, we tend to question. And when I start to question, I have to stop and ask, "What kind of prison have I put myself in that I cannot see the works of God?"

fear? depression? legalism? un-forgiveness?

worldly distraction? selfishness? pride?

When I am busy yelling for answers or bemoaning my situation, I fail to realize that God is on the move. He does not rest. His will is being accomplished for my good & His glory and He does hear me.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love.

Zephaniah 3:17

Jesus didn't reprimand John for His question. He quieted him with his love. Not too much later John the Baptist was beheaded and I believe that it was with a confident heart that he met His Lord. You & I can have the same confidence. With hushed hearts we can wait on the perfect love & timing of Jesus. Be still, sweet friend and know that your God is coming and He is mighty to save.

We can see God and His works,

So That we can believe.