Doubt is something that we will struggle with as believers. From the beginning in Genesis 3, Satan planned seeds of doubt in the mind of Eve.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 ESV
Ever since that time we have struggled with our belief in God. How can we overcome doubt when it creeps into our lives?
Here are a few ways I have thought through on how to combat my own doubt. First by embracing God’s Word, second through prayer, third by surrendering to God our doubt and lastly by remembering.
Embracing God’s Word
Yes, this is an obvious one, but God’s Word is a treasure of the character of God and His works throughout time. When we read the Bible from cover to cover, we learn how God worked in the lives of people during that time. The Bible tells us that God does not change, so the same God that we read about is the Bible can do the same now in our lives.
The Bible is replete with accounts of God working situations for good and promising us a better future if we place our trust in Him.
The Bible encourages us to place our faith in God. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 ESV
Also, does not shy away from telling us about people who doubted. I think the most famous is the account about the apostle Thomas in John 20:24-29.
Thomas physically walked with God for three years and yet he doubt Christ resurrection. We can get on Thomas for doubting just like we can fault Eve for doubting what God told her in the garden of Eden.
These accounts in the Bible are lessons for us. As humans we will doubt God, but God has also set a pattern of His faithfulness
Prayer
Prayer is us talking to God. It is pouring out our hearts to a willing and waiting God.
Prayer helps us to unload our burdens to God when we don’t understand or struggling to doubt. We can ask God to give us the faith needed to trust Him. Jesus tells His disciples,
“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13 ESV
When you are along and praying to God it does not have to be formal, but we should still maintain a level of reverence when we come to God in prayer. It’s important to express your feeling and emotions to God and ask Him to make them acceptable to Him. God knows our struggles and thoughts, so why should we try to hide them? Expressing them to God and then asking of His help and guidance is what we should do.
God is always ready to hear our needs and our doubts.
So how does surrendering and remembering helps us with doubt? Watch out for the next blog post!
References
What does the Bible say about doubt? https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-doubt.html
Doubting God – how can I overcome doubt in my relationship with God? https://www.gotquestions.org/doubting-God.html
How can I avoid being a doubting Thomas? https://www.gotquestions.org/doubting-Thomas.html
