When Doubt Knocks on the Door

(A reflection on Matthew 11:2–6)

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
— Matthew 11:2–3

John the Baptist — the fiery prophet who once declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” — now sits in a dark prison cell, unsure. The same man who baptized Jesus is now wondering if he had somehow misunderstood it all.

What changed?
Not Jesus — but the circumstances.
John expected the Messiah to bring judgment, liberation, and visible glory. Instead, Jesus was healing the broken, preaching mercy, and leaving John behind bars.

Even the greatest saints have moments when their faith collides with disappointment.
We may not admit it openly, but the question often surfaces: “Lord… are You really who I thought You were?”

Notice how Jesus responds. He doesn’t scold John. He doesn’t say, “How dare you doubt?”
Instead, He points gently to the evidence of quiet redemption:

“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”

Jesus’ reply means: John, the Kingdom is coming — just not in the way you expected.
Faith often requires us to trust that God’s work is happening even when it doesn’t look like our plan.

When doubt knocks, don’t hide it. Bring it to Christ.
He can handle the questions — He already did, from a cross.

Sometimes, He answers with miracles.
Sometimes, He answers with peace that passes understanding.
But always, He answers with Himself.