The Gap Where Doubt Lives | Tuesday
Devotional
Have you ever noticed how quickly circumstances can cloud your perspective? One moment you’re confident in God’s goodness, and the next—after receiving difficult news or facing an unexpected challenge—questions and doubts begin to surface.
John the Baptist experienced this reality. Despite his powerful ministry and clear calling, his imprisonment created a gap between what he expected from the Messiah and what he was experiencing. In that gap, doubt took root.
This pattern is universal in our faith journeys. As one pastor wisely observed, “Anytime you have a gap in what you expect and what is real, what fills that gap is doubt.” The problem often isn’t our faith but our expectations. We expect God to work in specific ways, and when He doesn’t, uncertainty creeps in.
Jesus responded to John’s doubt not by changing his circumstances but by realigning his expectations. He pointed to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies—evidence that God’s plan was unfolding, just not as John might have anticipated.
Perhaps today you’re living in that gap between expectation and reality. Your healing hasn’t come, your relationship remains broken, or your financial situation hasn’t improved despite faithful prayer. The invitation isn’t to deny these realities but to bring your expectations back to God’s actual promises rather than what you’ve assumed He should do.
God’s faithfulness isn’t measured by how well He fulfills our expectations but by His unwavering commitment to His promises and purposes.
Bible Verse
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” – Isaiah 35:5-6a
Reflection Question
What specific expectations of God might you need to surrender or realign with Scripture to help bridge the gap where doubt has taken root in your life?
Quote
Circumstances have a way of clouding our perspective. Have you ever noticed that even in your own life, that circumstances, they have a way of messing us up mentally? Like, it causes anxiety where you didn’t have anxiety before. It causes you to worry about things when you didn’t worry about those things before.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I’ve created expectations of You that aren’t rooted in Your Word. Help me to recognize the gaps between my expectations and reality, and fill those spaces with trust rather than doubt. Realign my heart with Your true promises. Thank You that Your faithfulness isn’t dependent on meeting my expectations but on fulfilling Your perfect plan. Amen.