It’s really you, right Lord? Part One

Oh, how life is filled with highs and lows. Most of us have seen good times and bad times, but I’ve never seen bad times quite like those who are bound in prison.

One of the bad things I recall from five years of jail ministry is the lack of prompt communication, and the uncertainty that brings. Here “on the outside”, I can call, text, and email people right now. I can contact people whenever I want and get a near immediate response.

When I started talking to inmates at the county jail, one of their chief prayer requests was for their spouses, kids, and lawyers. Why? Because most of them had very limited contact with these people. There was a bank of five phones lining one wall of the jail “pod”, and phone time was considered quite sacred.

I’ve seen inmates yelling, laughing, and crying while talking on those phones. It’s amazing the flood of emotions that come out when you talk to someone you haven’t talked to in a long time because you’re locked in jail.

Lack of communication brings lots of doubts.

“Pray for my kids, preacher, I don’t know where they are right now.”

“Pray for my wife, preacher, I don’t know if she’s at home or she’s left me.”

“Pray that my lawyer will get ahold of me, preacher, I’m headed to court soon.”

“Pray for me, preacher, I don’t know what’s waiting for me tomorrow.”

John the Baptist, locked in a prison, sent two of his disciples to Jesus with a question: Are you the Christ, or is there someone else coming?

Daily Armor Translation: I have no idea what’s going on because I’m locked up. I preached in the wilderness that Christ was coming. I saw Jesus and baptized him myself. Now, here I sit…was my ministry in vain? Is my life in vain? Can I trust that God is doing something through Jesus while I sit behind bars? Or is there someone else now besides Jesus? I need to know.

Friend, is there doubt and uncertainty in your life right now? Do you feel locked behind a wall with no idea what God is doing on the other side? You’re not alone, every human experiences uncertainty at some point, and Christians are not exempt.

God is still God. Your circumstances will constantly change, but He will never change. Seek Him daily for wisdom, stay in your Bible, and continue to trust that He is working always for your ultimate benefit, and never for your failure.

To be continued….