Dealing with your Doubt
We all experience doubt about our faith. It will wax and wane, but it’s never going to be completely extinguished.
So, what do we do in those moments of doubt? We have to choose to believe. Here are a few things I try to remember and choose to believe when I’m experiencing doubt . . .
- God is real –The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:20 lays out the first question everyone has to answer. Did the earth and the heavens create themselves? Or was there a Creator? Did man invent God? Or did God invent man?
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
By faith, I choose to believe God is real.
- God loves me– When I had nowhere else to turn, I set aside my doubts, my pride, my ego . . . everything. I prayed, “God, I need you. I need your forgiveness. I want to know you love me.” On September 19th, I celebrated the 36th anniversary of that prayer, and for me personally, there’s an undeniable trail of evidence proving He truly loves me.
By faith, I choose to believe God loves me.
- God can be trusted– Because I know He loves me, I trust Him with every outcome. It’s my job to do my best, to love and serve people, and to pray . . . to ask Him for whatever I think is needed. But He’s not on trial here. Whatever comes, I can relax, knowing it came through His hand. Did He make it happen? Did he let it happen? I don’t know. I simply know He loves me.
By faith, I choose to trust God.
- There is a life after this one– Jesus proved it with His death, resurrection, and ascension. I don’t know where it will be or what it will be like. But I know justice will ultimately be done, and I’ll be where Jesus is because I believe in Him and follow Him.
By faith, I choose to believe in eternal life, in heaven, and my place there, earned by Jesus on the Cross and given to me as a free gift because of His amazing grace.
When I stay grounded in those four basic truths, I can deal with doubt, and with the things the enemy sends to confuse me.
Scripture: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:3)
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