When Resistance Comes

When we step out in faith and things fall apart, it is easy to assume God is not at work. But Matthew 14 makes clear that resistance does not mean God has stepped away. Sometimes resistance comes precisely because He is moving. John the Baptist is a powerful example of this. He confronted Herod repeatedly about his unlawful marriage, knowing full well the consequences. That kind of boldness did not come from personality or talent. It came from knowing that the truth he stood on was not his own, and from time spent in the presence of Jesus. Herod, by contrast, appeared powerful but was completely controlled by the fear of what others thought. One compromise led to another until he found himself ordering the execution of an innocent man simply because he was too proud to admit he was wrong.

The hardest part of Matthew 14 is that John dies, and Herod stays on the throne. On the surface, it looks like resistance won. But God was not caught off guard. His sovereignty does not mean everything will make sense to us. It means He is not surprised by any of it. The cross is the clearest proof of this. What looked like the darkest moment in human history became the greatest act of redemption the world has ever seen. After John's death, his disciples brought their grief to Jesus, and that is exactly what we are invited to do. Christian hope does not eliminate grief. It gives grief somewhere to go. Whatever you are facing right now, bring your real self to God. He is not shouting encouragement from a distance. He entered the water with us.