It was one of those mornings when I felt numb.
I felt empty.
I didn’t want to get out of bed.
I didn’t care about today.
I didn’t care whether tomorrow came.
Have you had a day like this?
So, even before my feet touched the floor (how do I describe it?) this sticky web of hopelessness, doubt and discouragement threatened to wrap me up and save me for a mid-morning spider snack.
I asked, “Why do I feel this way?
What’s the cause?
How do I get out of this funk?”
And these questions led to another,
“Is there any good purpose for the feeling of hopelessness, doubt and discouragement?”
My mind recalled John the Baptist. I pictured him locked in Herod’s dungeon. Can’t you imagine John feeling hopelessness, doubt and discouragement? Sure, it’s easy to understand how John could feel this way.
In his mind, things weren’t going well. John didn’t see his situation as God’s perfect plan unfolding. But I wondered, did it play into God’s perfect plan unfolding? It looked as if evil was in control, but was this the case? (Matthew 11).
In my estimation, John the Baptizer felt hopelessness, doubt, and discouragement. One evidence of this is that John sent his disciples to quiz Jesus about whether Jesus was truly the Messiah … the world had been waiting for.
Yet, John’s hopelessness, doubt, and discouragement also created an opportunity.
How so?
Jesus gave John the evidence of assurance.
John’s disciples’ report gave him hope, confidence, and trust. The proofs Jesus furnished John were sufficient.
They worked.
John died with the guarantee that his life had meaning and purpose and that his cousin was indeed sent by God.
Thus, John’s hopelessness, doubt, and discouragement switched to unflappable salvation. John’s faith grabbed a hold of the reality that Jesus’ life makes a difference for everyone.
An opportunity exists where there was, seemly, only despair.
Observing John’s hopelessness, doubt, and discouragement became an open door opportunity for me, too. My day regained enthusiasm for life. God knows what He’s doing … don’t you think so?
This Good News message has a powerful purpose in curing hopelessness, doubt, and discouragement.
Read the story, it’ll keep the spiders away.
Bonus Song:
Don Moan God Will Make a Way
Audio:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.