In Prison
by Lilias Trotter

"Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ,
he sent a message by his disciples and asked Him,
Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one?
And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see:
The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear,
the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them.
And blessed is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling through Me
and is not hindered from seeing the Truth." (Matt 11:2-6).

Jesus did not explain.
If you are to enjoy a close walk with God
you will have to leave many things unexplained...
He strengthens faith, reveals his character through power
and miracles, and then says, 'Go and tell John about it.'
I know of no hours more trying than when Jesus multiplies
his power in signs elsewhere, but does not use it on our behalf;
when he sends you his message, 'I can do it, but trust me
when I don't do it.' This is the point where hearts break,
when the messengers come back and say, 'Yes, he is all you thought,
but he said no word about taking you out of prison.'
These are the hours that, in eternity, we will study with delight
and amazement; no explanation, faith in spite of prison, doors left closed;
and then the message: 'Blessed is he who is not offended in me.'

Parables in Nature

Index of Lilias Trotter's Writings and Artwork