Exodus 4:10-13 Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
Doubt is destructive. It fills us with uncertainty and makes us indecisive. It affects our ability to connect with God and receive His wisdom. We will know doubt is at work when we struggle to believe the following truths:
First, God loves us all the time. Most of us accept the Lord’s deep affection for us when we’re “good.” But how about when we’re disobedient? Our behavior doesn’t change His love. We can be certain of this because of the promises in Romans 5:8, which says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God loved us while we rebelled against Him. That’s amazing grace.
Second, doubt is working in our lives when we struggle to believe that God has forgiven our disobedience. We know God promises to forgive us when we confess our sins. But we may have trouble believing we’re forgiven. Feelings don’t determine truth. We know God’s word is true. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” That’s a description of complete forgiveness.
Finally, we know doubt is a problem when we forget that God has called us to serve Him. The Lord often invites believers to join Him in His work. This can include teaching a Sunday school class, helping a family in need, taking a leadership role, or telling another person about Jesus. Doubt can cause us to make excuses for our disobedience, just as Moses did in Exodus chapter four. In Ephesians 2:10, God promises that He’s equipped us with everything we need to follow His will.
The opposite of doubt is faith.
Which word best describes your state of mind?
Showing posts with label Doubt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doubt. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2007
Doubt : Winning the Struggle with Doubt
James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Doubt can lead to anxiety, frustration, and fear. All of those emotions can short-circuit our faith. A nagging sense of insecurity can come from a variety of sources:
First, uncertainties can develop from a lack of knowledge about God’s character, confusion regarding His promises, or a misunderstanding of His plans.
Second, insecurity can result from the presence of sin in our lives. Sin may prompt us to question biblical truth in an attempt to justify our actions.
Third, focusing on circumstances instead of the Lord’s sufficiency can drain away our hope and joy.
Fourth, insecurity can be caused by past failures which can result on a more pessimistic outlook on life.
Finally, other people’s criticism can also make us feel insecure. Whatever the cause, when we’re overwhelmed with doubt, our usefulness to God is limited.
Believers’ fears are a tool of the Enemy. Satan will often add his own words to increase our negative thinking. He reminds us of past mistakes and seemingly unanswered prayers. His age-old technique of questioning God’s direction makes us wonder if we truly know the Lord’s will. As the Father of Lies, Satan tries to twist the truth to serve his purposes.
When doubts surface, confess them as sin. Remember other times you trusted God and His faithfulness, and meditate on His promises. The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth so you can overcome.
Doubt doesn’t fit who we are as children of God. We are permanently adopted into His family, heirs, and co-heirs with His Son, Jesus. As believers, our character is defined when we walk in step with God.
Doubt can lead to anxiety, frustration, and fear. All of those emotions can short-circuit our faith. A nagging sense of insecurity can come from a variety of sources:
First, uncertainties can develop from a lack of knowledge about God’s character, confusion regarding His promises, or a misunderstanding of His plans.
Second, insecurity can result from the presence of sin in our lives. Sin may prompt us to question biblical truth in an attempt to justify our actions.
Third, focusing on circumstances instead of the Lord’s sufficiency can drain away our hope and joy.
Fourth, insecurity can be caused by past failures which can result on a more pessimistic outlook on life.
Finally, other people’s criticism can also make us feel insecure. Whatever the cause, when we’re overwhelmed with doubt, our usefulness to God is limited.
Believers’ fears are a tool of the Enemy. Satan will often add his own words to increase our negative thinking. He reminds us of past mistakes and seemingly unanswered prayers. His age-old technique of questioning God’s direction makes us wonder if we truly know the Lord’s will. As the Father of Lies, Satan tries to twist the truth to serve his purposes.
When doubts surface, confess them as sin. Remember other times you trusted God and His faithfulness, and meditate on His promises. The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth so you can overcome.
Doubt doesn’t fit who we are as children of God. We are permanently adopted into His family, heirs, and co-heirs with His Son, Jesus. As believers, our character is defined when we walk in step with God.
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