Stop Asking God for Another Sign | Mark 8:11-13

The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today’s shout-out goes to Mark Blumenthal from Charlotte, NC. Mark, your partnership with us through Project 23 is a testament to your faith and a blessing to us. This study is for you.

Our text today is Mark 8:11-13:

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.— Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees show up again—not to listen, but to argue. They demand a sign. Not because they’re curious—but because they’re testing Jesus. And Jesus responds with a deep sigh—not the frustrated kind, but the disappointed kind. The sigh you make when someone just doesn’t get it.

He says: “Why does this generation seek a sign?”

The irony is Jesus has given them plenty of signs. Healing. Exorcism. Bread. Fish. Hearing. Sight. Storms calmed. But these religious elite are not looking for evidence—they’re looking for control over a situation that is scaling beyond their control. And Jesus doesn’t play their game. He doesn’t cave to pressure. He doesn’t bend to cynicism. He walks away.

This is a sobering moment. Jesus doesn’t chase them. He doesn’t argue back. He gets in the boat and moves on.

Some people don’t want to believe and surrender—they want to control and stay in charge. And that’s the Pharisees. They have not come to inquire of Jesus or have any desire to follow him. They merely want Jesus to play by their rules.

And we can all fall into the same trap. We think:

“God, show me something and then I’ll believe.” “Fix this first, and then I’ll trust you.” “Give me a sign, and then I’ll surrender.”

But that’s not how belief and faith work.

Faith moves before the sign. It steps out without a guarantee. It trusts in Jesus—without forcing his hand. There’s a huge difference between asking by faith and demanding with pride. One walks toward Jesus. The other makes Jesus sigh and walk away.

Jesus, I don’t want to test you—I want to trust You. Help my faith walk ahead of the sign I think I need. Amen.

#FaithNotSigns, #TrustJesus, #Mark8

ASK THIS:

1. Have you ever asked God for a sign to prove Himself?
2. How do you respond when God seems silent?
3. What’s the difference between testing God and trusting Him?
4. How does pride keep us from surrender?

DO THIS:

Choose to trust Jesus today in one area where you've been waiting for proof.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, I don’t want to test you—I want to trust You. Help my faith walk ahead of the sign I think I need. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Trust in You” by Lauren Daigle.