Friday, November 22, 2013

Dealing with Doubts by Martin Wiles

Deep inside…occasionally…temporarily—and on bad days, I’m a skeptic.

But before you pronounce judgment, examine your inner self. The one no one else knows. The side you only let escape when you’re with the closest of friends. If you’re honest, you’ll probably admit that sometimes you’re a doubter too.

I know asking God for something without believing he’ll grant it is useless. I’ve prayed without faith. More often than I want to admit. I say I believe—I even act like I do, but deep inside I’m not sure I always do. If I did, I wouldn’t be surprised when God actually answers. Like most, when I was young in the faith, I believed God could and would do anything. But then I became over familiar with my faith and it lost its edge.

Fortunately, I’ve re-captured the freshness of my faith, but occasionally I’m still like God’s people of old—and perhaps the average believer. They even spoke against God himself, saying, “God can’t give us food in the wilderness. (Psalm 78:19 NLT) But he did give them food and water.

Dealing with my occasional doubts is easier when I remember doubt isn’t from God. He never desires that I doubt his love, wisdom, guidance, concern, or his ability to usher me into abundant living.

And it’s through those very instances when I’m tempted to doubt God that I learn to trust him more. One significant way God moves me beyond uncertainty is by shoring up my trust in him to do the right thing in every circumstance.

My doubts are also dealt with by constantly reminding myself that the Christian life is lived by faith not sight. Sight can lead to doubt; faith drives it away.

Do you doubt God more than you’re comfortable with? He will never disappoint you.

Prayer: Eternal God, when we are tempted to doubt You, move us to faith instead.

Martin N MichelleHelp spread the encouragement by sharing this site with a friend.

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