How to Overcome Doubt
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. Matthew 21:21
Doubt is a doorway through which Satan enters your life. It causes the ‘fight of faith’ to become the ‘flight of faith’. When fear, confusion, discouragement and despair take up residence within you, they rob you of confidence, joy and peace. But isn’t doubting just human? Of course it is and it’s also Satan’s ploy! ‘…whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given…’ (1 John 5:10). Your doubts reveal a lack of confidence in what God says. So how can you stop doubting? The same way you deal with other sin—by acknowledging you have a problem and doing something about it. Doubt cannot be conquered by reason or even resistance; it will only submit to complete relinquishment. Trying to overcome your doubts one by one is like an alcoholic trying to reduce their alcohol intake one drink at a time. It doesn’t work. The solution is two-fold. 1) It begins with a once-for-all decision. It calls for a total relinquishing of your right to doubt anything God promised. It’s saying, ‘From now on, I will not doubt God!’ It’s believing that when you surrender a thing to Him, He takes it and deals with it. 2) By faith declare, ‘Lord, I absolutely trust Your every Word!’ Will doubt come knocking again at your door? Yes, but instead of letting it in, ‘…[take] the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked’ (Ephesians 6:16). Don’t fret, wrestle, or reason with your doubts. Instead, repeat your Scriptural declaration of faith, disregard your feelings, and trust God to do what He says.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me trust that what You have said and promised is true and that You always carry out what You promise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Thank you for today & most every day that I am encouraged & challenged. As a Baptist pastor I often find sermon seeds as well as thoughts for illustrations.
In addition, I really needed today – I have been and am continuing to fight depression and today was a blessing.