Doubt. To be uncertain. To distrust and be apprehensive. Doubt makes us hesitant and reluctant, freezing us in our tracks or sending us crawling back under the covers. Doubts threaten to keep us undecided and stagnant in belief.
Faith and trust stand firm as the antitheses to doubt. Aiming this double-barrel shotgun at our doubts sends them scurrying.
But sometimes, our weapons are misplaced and we stand unarmed, feeling confused, prone to uncertainty, skepticism and anxiety.
We traipse through difficult circumstances and wonder “Would God allow this in my life if He loved me?” We pray over a situation for years while it appears nothing changes and we question, “God, do you hear? Do you care?”
At times our faith in Christ stands solid; assured He is who He says He is. Our problem is doubting who He says we are in Him. We question, “Does He really love ‘me’?” Past sins haunt us and we wonder “Has He really forgiven me?” Present, reoccurring sin make us suspicious we’ve plumb wore out His grace.
We go through occasions reeking of self-doubt. I doubt my understanding and interpretations of the Word. I doubt that I can hear Him. I doubt my ability to carry out what He has asked. I doubt that He wants us to focus on doubt this week.
Christ followers have rankled with doubt all along; even while Christ was present with them. After Jesus calms the storm, they ask, “Who is this?” (Mark 4:41) Remember Peter, with great faith walking on water toward Jesus, but when doubt whispers, he feels his body sinking into the murky waters. (Matthew 14:31) Disciples, including the famed Doubting Thomas (John 20:25), questioned the resurrection, struggling to comprehend what was happening. (Matthew 28:17)
How do we respond when doubts creep in? When we begin to question what we were certain of for decades? We often hear that “when in doubt, don’t”. I propose that “when in doubt, do”. Do these four things:
1. Pray. He perceives your wrestling, so confess your struggle; your uncertainty. Tell Him you are feeling skeptical and questioning truth. Ask Him to help you understand. To clear your vision. Ask for His wisdom. Cry out as the father of the demon possessed son in Mark 9:24: “Lord, I believe. Help me with my doubts!” “I believe in you Jesus. If there is still some discouragement in me, still some doubts, take them away and fill me with an unquestioning faith”. And God will answer. Not according to your doubts, but according to the richness of His grace.
2. Study the Word. Often, confusion and doubt slither in because we start considering “wisdom” outside the Word of God. Instead of listening to the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), our ears, then our heads, and finally our hearts begin to turn toward the fickle, ever-changing opinions of the world. We try to wear ill-fitting political correctness. We bump into well-meaning but misguided thinking from Christian sources. But, by getting in the Word, “we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) We shed the light of scriptural truth onto all of our thinking, for truth weeds out doubt.
3. Talk to a Faith-filled Friend. We discover remarkable help coming alongside a well-taught Christian, who understands Jude 22 to “Be merciful to those who doubt”. A friend who listens, seeks to understand as you talk through your doubts, then helps with Scripture-based truths, and releases power by praying over you as you work through your wrestling.
4. Focus on Jesus. Sit still in His presence and focus on who He is. Say out loud the titles that He bears, pausing to consider each one: Son of God, Creator, King of Kings, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Great Shepherd, Bread of Life, Light of the World. Refreshing our souls by meditating on the power and sovereignty of God grows our trust and our faith. When we are troubled and doubts rise, we hear Jesus say, “Don’t be upset and let all these doubting questions take over. Look at Me. See Me” (Luke 24:38). In His presence, doubts begin to melt away and we come away with our faith realigned to Him and our trust buoyed.
Photo by Evan Dennis on Unsplash
