1st Peter 1:6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations. 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Like Job, John longed to hear a word from Christ, especially since he had been faithful to truth and duty in preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. But for some unknown reason to John, God goes silent, and John scratches his head day by day, searching for an answer or an explanation, but for a period of time, not a single word is spoken.
[The Desire of Ages. Pp 216] To the desert prophet all this seemed a mystery beyond his fathoming. There were hours when the whisperings of demons tortured his spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear crept over him. Could it be that the long-hoped-for Deliverer had not yet appeared?
But again, in this instance, it was prudent that Jesus not visit John, for doing so would no doubt trigger a plethora of suspicions in the minds of Herod and his vile paramour, and then Jesus would make Himself the target of many premature assaults, even before His time had fully come.
Romans 12: 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bess!