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“Despair Occurs Unfortunately, But Trust Savior!" (D.O.U.B.T.S)

May you know Jesus, who wants to be your Lord and Savior this Christmas season and forever!! Amen!

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.  (Luke 1:34-38, NIV)

Mary was still in doubt that she was going to bear a son in her virginity and makes it clear to the angel. I found it very interesting that the angel did not leave Mary when she questioned the angel but patiently answered her with reasons to appease her doubts.

The angel Gabriel gave 3 main promises to appease Mary doubts:

1. The HOLY SPIRIT will COME UPON YOU
2. The POWER of the MOST HIGH will OVERSHADOW YOU
3. HOLY ONE to be born will be called the SON OF GOD

 The angel starts out with the Holy Spirit, then mentions God, and concludes with Jesus.

Mary is let known about the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit who will begin the process of allowing her to conceive in her virginity. This is because the power of the Most High would overshadow her giving her the ability to conceive in her virginity. Now the final result would be a ‘HOLY ONE’ being born who will be called the Son of God.

It is very significant that the angel answers Mary’s doubts with promises that are entirely focused on God. The Holy Spirit, Power of the Most High, and Holy One called Son of God all are names for God.

The angel does not stop there but goes a step further giving her a promise that is very tangible at the moment rather than intangible like the previous 3 promises.

When the angel started giving Mary reasons, they were all spiritually intangible reasons that she could not see right away but had to believe in faith. I believe God wanted to appease her doubts more concretely so let the angel present a more concrete tangible promise that can be seen.

This is evidenced by the angel’s next promise:

“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.” (Luke 1:36)

The angel lets her know that Elizabeth is going to have a child in her old age. This statement alone would also be intangible of something to come in the future and Mary would have to take it in faith. The angel does not stop there but lets her know Elizabeth who is barren is already in her sixth month. This is very significant because now Mary could tangibly see something that seems humanly impossible happening in her relative’s life. This is to assure Mary that if Elizabeth could get pregnant and she was medically diagnosed to be barren then Mary too could get pregnant even though she was a virgin.

After the angel gives all the reasons, he concludes it with a powerful promise giving the credit to God and letting her know it is because of God whatever is going to happen will happen. This is evidenced by:

“For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

After all these reasons Mary’s doubts are definitely appeased. She may not have understood everything nor had a scientific answer to explain what was going to happen but she finally believed. Her doubts were appeased because her question was answered patiently by the angel Gabriel.

I know she believed because she makes two powerful statements to the angel which makes the angel know her doubts are removed. This is evidenced by:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)

1. I am the Lord’s servant!
2. May it be to me as you have said!

It is so interesting that the angel leaves only after hearing Mary’s response to her doubt being appeased. Until then, the angel kept giving her reasons to believe.

 I saw wonderful implications for our own life.

If we have doubts and questions concerning the Lord and what He tells us, He we will not abandoned us but will work with us.

I ask you now dear friend, what do you do with your doubts?

Dear friend, it is wonderful to know that our doubts and questions are not thrown away by the Lord. Just as the Lord intervened through the angel Gabriel to work with Mary in her doubts, He will intervene in your life to help you through your doubts. We need not be afraid to ask questions of the Lord or concerning the Lord. He will send someone our way to help us through these doubts. I do believe it.

I do not know the doubts you may have right now. But the Lord does and He will not abandon you. The Lord welcomes your questions. Take it to Him and He will respond. Wait upon Him!

When John, the Baptist who was born to Elizabeth had doubts later in his life concerning Jesus who was born to Mary, Jesus did not abandon John but sent word to him in prison to appease his doubts too.

Let us remember that John was the one who was born before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming. As circumstances started coming his way that were not good, doubt started to creep into his ministry. He doubted the things he believed but the Lord helped him through it through his disciples.

It becomes a big deal when we know how long John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord. He is the one who also baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (rf: Mark 1:9). Now it seems like John is not sure about Jesus.

We need to ask ourselves why?

Being in prison may have raised doubts in John's mind. He easily could have been in despair. Also, he may have wanted to assure himself even though he is in prison that what he stood for all along was right! (rf: Luke 3:1-20, v.19 & 20 reveal why he was put in prison)

How can a prophet who believed in Jesus, prepared the way for Jesus, and baptized Jesus all of a sudden be filled with doubts?

 Sometimes circumstances we are in can make us doubt. John is a human just like us.

What does Jesus do? 

"So he replied to the messengers, 'Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." (Luke 7:22-23)

Observations:

1. Jesus wanted the men to go back to John.

2. Jesus wanted them to report to John what they have seen. (rf Lk 7:21)

3. Jesus wanted them to report what they have heard.

 Jesus told them to tell John the Baptist 7 things:

1. Blind receive sight

2. Lame walk.

3. Those with leporsy are cured.

4. Deaf hear.

5. Dead are raised.

6. The Good News is preached to the poor!

7. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.

Interpretations:

It is very interesting to know that Jesus did not ignore John the Baptist when he had doubts but took the effort to answer his doubts. He sent the messengers with evidence to reassure John the Baptist that what he stood for before going to prison was right!

We learn the love of Jesus for others. If people have doubts concerning Him, He does not just abandon them even if they have served Him for a long time and then enter the times of 'despair and doubt'.

Application:

We have seen John the Baptist live for Jesus and all He did for Jesus. We also learn that he was put in prison for standing up for what is right. Now he is in despair and doubt. We also see Jesus coming along and sending a message of hope to John the Baptist. Especially v.23 'Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.'

Dear friends, I ask you now, 'Have you served the Lord and have been so enthusiastic about telling others about Jesus? Have you been so excited about the Lord?'

What about now?

Is that enthusiasm and excitement for the Lord still there or are your circumstances filling you with despair and doubt about what you believed in and stood for?

If you are in despair and doubt, remember that Jesus will not abandon you. He will reach out to you just as he reached out to John the Baptist. Oh Yes, He will! When you feel down and in despair, remember all that the Lord Jesus has done in your life and in the lives of others.

Jesus does not ignore John for his doubts but reaches out to him with evidence and later also praises him for all that he did in serving Jesus. (rf Luke 7:24-28)

Jesus reaches out to you too and will not forget what you have done for Him. In your circumstances that are filling you with doubt and despair, come to the Lord and stand upon His Word and promises.

May you find the peace and joy in the Lord this Christmas season and forever and blessed are those who do not fall away on account of Jesus!

We will all face trials and tribulations (rf: James 1:2-4) but the important thing is what do we do with those trials and tribulations?

God loves you my friend and it may be hard to face what you are going through. The Lord suffers with you and knows your pain. Lean on Him.

The angel Gabriel never left Mary until her doubts were appeased. Maybe the Lord has sent you to answer someone’s questions and appease their doubts. You are placed at such a time as this. Use that opportunity for the glory of the Lord and do not give up on the person you are trying to reach out to you. Remember, it is the Lord who works in you to accomplish His purpose. Don’t give up but keep reaching out.

I want to share a personal testimony regarding my own doubt.

My grandfather was really sick and became unconscious after he fell in the bathroom. He was taken to the hospital and was in a coma for sometime. I prayed so hard for the Lord to heal him and had my friends pray for him too. I was so sure that God could heal him and that he would live. I got a telephone call from my mom few days later that 'he passed away'. I was so hurt and also doubtful about God. I did not even feel like praying anymore. You know the Lord did not leave me but took me to His Word and comforted me. My mom's dad passed away and my mom is the one who kept telling me to never stop praying and to keep holding on to the Word of God. It was a time of testing for me that only the Lord's strength and comfort could get me through. He has done that!

May you trust the Savior though despair occurs in life for He will take care of us! Amen!

Despair Occurs Unfortunately, But Trust Savior! (D.O.U.B.T.S)

Prayer:

Oh Father God, we just come before you now. Thank you so much Father God for your Son Jesus Christ, for sending Him into this world to rescue sinners like me. Oh Lord Jesus, thank you so much for being with me through trials and tribulations. Even in my doubts you never left me and kept to your promises. Oh Lord I thank you for loving us so much. Your Word shows us that trials and tribulations are a part of life but you will be with us. You want us to remember all that you have done for us when we are filled with despair. You want us to trust in you and we do that Oh Lord. I thank you Lord for reaching out to Mary and John the Baptist in their time of despair and doubt. Thank you for reaching out to us too. We are so sorry for all our sins and ask you to forgive us and rescue us. Light the fire in our hearts again Oh Lord and fan the flame. Make us whole Oh Lord. You know Oh Lord where we have been and we need you. Light the fire that once burned so bright for you. I thank you Jesus. We give ourselves to you and rest in you Lord. We rest in your love and care. Give us an undivided heart that we may praise your Name. Thank you for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name We Pray Jesus! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh