As I write this, there are wars raging in various places. The ones most heard and talked about are in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Dozens if not hundreds of people are being killed every day in the attacks. Meanwhile, so many people are praying for an end to these hostilities. Almost every morning, I ask God to speak to the hearts of those who have the ability to put an end to this insanity. But from day to day, nothing seems to change. To be honest, some of us are starting to wonder, Where is God? Why does He allow these events to take place?

Although sometimes we wonder, doubting God's purposes is nothing new. Even Bible heroes had times of great doubt. One of the best examples is John the Baptist. Here's what the Bible tells us happened to him:

Mark 6:17-19a – Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. (NIV 2011)

While he was in prison, John sat and wondered what was happening to him. He had spent so much time preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah, and he had been so sure that his cousin Jesus was the expected One. He had baptized Him just a short time before, and he had made this profound statement:

John 1:34 – I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One. (NIV 2011)

But now in prison, he began to doubt this.

Matthew 11:2-6 – When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." (NIV 2011)

During these tumultuous times, do you, like me, sometimes wonder where God is in all this? John did. But then, Christ is with us to help us overcome our doubts, and the very words that He added to His reassurance to John offer us encouragement: "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Praise be to God!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, there are times when we worry and wonder about all the things going on in the world. We pray that You will speak to the hearts of those who have the ability to change things and that a change for peace will come about. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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