Real Christians don’t have doubts…
Right?
One of the biggest struggles I faced as a Christ-follower was doubt.
That doubt came with baggage too!
It brought guilt and shame with it.
How could I doubt?
I should have faith!
I can’t be doubting the truth in God’s word or doubting that He could do a miracle.
I must not be a real believer.
I can’t talk about this!
I’m supposed to be an example of faith.
These thoughts paralyzed my mind… Until…
One day, I was in my head at work.
I was unable to focus because of the threatening nature of guilt-led thoughts, suffocating my clarity and robbing me of my peace of mind.
This is the day I learned something that changed my life!
I am so happy I get to share this with you.
I pray that it sets you free, as it freed me!
You need to know this.
The enemy will come to rattle you.
Doubt will come pounding at you.
However, you needn’t feel ashamed!
I’ve been through the exact same thing.
This is what God told me that day, when I was in a low place in my life, my spirit was exhausted and doubt was crashing in my mind like thunder….
He said, “the fact that the doubt is intrusive and threatening, while faith is not desperate for your attention, proves that the doubt is wrong. The devil is intrusive, intimidating and thundering because he’s desperate for you to give his suggestions your attention. The enemy uses fear and shame to get your attention. While I [the LORD] don’t need to be thundering and intimidating. I come gently so you can accept Me and My word truly; not just out of fear.”
Consider I Kings 19:11-12…
“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
I Kings 19:11-12 NKJV.
The doubt is proof that the enemy is trying to get you to stop going in the direction towards God.
The fear is to ensure that you run away and don’t address it.
You needn’t run away though!
God can handle your doubt!
He’s God and He isn’t afraid of your doubt!
If you have questions God loves to answer them!
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 NKJV.
You can take your doubt to God!
The devil wants you to feel so much shame that you never look deeper into your questions.
He wants you to be afraid to admit that you have doubts, until you let doubts build up in your head and you just give up on Jesus.
The enemy is afraid that you’ll talk to God about your doubt and actually get answers that strengthen your faith!
That’s why doubt comes with shame and fear.
From a girl who faced the shame attached to questioning God…
My advice in this moment is to
Press into the doubt!
You can press into your doubt by taking it to God!
Go to His word and I promise you that, not in a non-thundering way;
but in a quiet way;
The LORD will silence the overwhelming fear and menacing shame by delivering the truth and strengthening your faith!
The truth is…
Doubt isn’t as bad as the devil wants you to believe!
A question is the gateway to learning the truth.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.””
John 8:32 NKJV.
Doubt is the beginning of understanding, if you choose to bring your questions to God.
Pride keeps us from admitting our doubt, but that just keeps us in chains of confusion.
The humble take their doubt and lack of understanding to God.
“The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
Psalms 25:9 NKJV.
When you are able to say in your heart…
“God, I am only human! This doesn’t make sense! I don’t understand! This seems contradictory! This is confusing!
My understanding is limited while Your understanding is infinite! Please help me understand and give me wisdom in this area!”
Then you are humbled and prepared to gain knowledge.
Honestly, it’s so cool when God leads you to the answer!
““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV.
I remember this more than anything in my walk with Jesus!
I’m living proof that every time I gave my questions and doubt to the LORD, He took my doubt and strengthened my faith in Him.
Don’t let the devil make you believe that you have to get to this point of never feeling doubt; and if you do doubt you’re not a real believer.
Those are lies, which won’t make the doubts go away; it will only harm your faith.
Real believers have questions but know that only God can answer those questions, and go to God to lead them to understanding.
It takes faith to take your doubts to a God that you believe loves you so much, He would give is only Son to save you.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV.
So, practice faith by taking your doubts to Jesus!
Photo by Ruxandra Scutelnic
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
