07 Jul Dealing with Doubt

Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.
–Luke 7:23

Some of you are going through a period of doubt in your life, or you know somebody who is. How do you deal with that doubt? There are four principles for dealing with doubt either in your life or the life of somebody you care about.

Number one: discern the cause of your doubt. Is it because of unlived truth or an unexamined faith? Maybe, but more than likely the cause of your doubt is that God is not behaving like you think He should in your life. It’s a big mistake to think of Jesus like a genie or a divine bellhop who responds to your every beck and call. God is not like that. In Isaiah 55:9, God said, “My ways [are] higher than your ways and My thoughts [are higher] than your thoughts.”

Number two: share your doubts with a mature Christian. When we are separated from others and feel all alone, our doubts become larger and more ominous. Where was John the Baptist in Luke 7 when his doubts began to grow? He was isolated in prison. That is why it is so important that when we have doubts, we talk to somebody about them. It may be a mature Christian friend, a parent, or a Sunday school teacher. Solomon said, “Two are better than one” and “a cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12). That’s why it is so important not to be a spectator in a church but to become a member where you are together with other Christians who can help you and encourage you whenever you stumble or fall in your faith. That is the value of being a part of the body of believers.

Number three: view your doubt as an opportunity to grow. James 1:3 says that “the testing of your faith produces endurance.” That is also true about doubt. If you respond to doubt the right way, then it can actually make your faith stronger. Mark Littleton gives this little formula about how to deal with doubt: “Turn your doubts into questions; turn your questions into prayers; turn your prayers to God.”

Number four: remember that your doubt never diminishes God’s love. God is not threatened by your questions. He is big enough to handle your doubts. Whenever you doubt, it doesn’t change what God thinks of you one bit. Several years ago I was talking to a Christian girl who was going through a very hard time in her life. She was crying and said, “I’m not even sure I believe in God any longer.” I said, “That’s okay. Even when you don’t believe in God, He still believes in you.” That’s the truth of Scripture. According to 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” Those are good words to remember for those who doubt.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “For Those Who Doubt” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2016.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.