When doubt attacks

Everyone doubts.

People doubt themselves, their career choice, their family, their friends … even their choice of a meal at their favorite restaurant.

And, most importantly, they doubt their faith – even if they don’t know what that is – where they will end up after death.

So, there is opportunity to talk to people about all these doubts. Conversation can center around just being a neighbor, a friend or a loving family member.

Doubt leads to frustration and tough times for people. It can cascade problems to a level that is difficult to deal with. These tough times fueled by doubt are an opening to come alongside people.

Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) – “3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Doubt, as far as sharing the Gospel, is an open door despite how damaging it can be in keeping someone from accepting the truth about Jesus.

Now, disciple, don’t let doubt take the advantage, take the advantage of Jesus’ truth and quell any doubt.

Acts 1:8 (KJV) – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Doubt is a common enemy – for believers and non-believers – so let that commonality be a launching point to a bigger conversation. Doubters need caring, sharing and saving.

3 Questions for now

Don’t be afraid to embrace the doubt someone shares.

Let it be an opportunity to show just how you overcame doubt and how you handle it thanks to your faith in Jesus and the Scripture which supplies you with answers.

The questions you can ask related to doubt are endless, so practice this a little in how you would help someone rid themselves of doubt. Your experiences are highly valuable here.

Ask, and you’ll get an answer:

• What’s causing you to doubt your job, career?

• What’s causing you to doubt your personal life choices?

• What’s causing you to doubt your own worth/relationship/future/life after death?

Everyone doubts.

Be kind. Love others. Be bold.

Shawn’s noodling rant:

(“Noodling” is a term I swiped from my mentor. The meaning is to “ponder” or “think deeply about” a topic that God is challenging us with through scripture or the Holy Spirit, or both.)

Can hard questions trip up one’s faith?

Sometimes we run across questions or seeming inconsistencies in our Bible study that give us pause. We might even begin to doubt Scripture.

Asking questions to gain clarity in the Word is not a bad thing.

Allowing doubt to simmer and fester is a dangerous thing.

Have a doubt? Get to work diving into the Scripture, asking a mentor for help … find the answer.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

We’ve all doubted something about God, Jesus and the Scripture at various points in our lives,  before we believed and even after.

We’re human, it’s part of our makeup. And it doesn’t help that almost everything in the world today is working toward a convenient end to our faith. Life today is like walking through a mysterious tunnel in a cave and with each step causing pointy arrows of doubt to fire out against you from all directions.

Doubt abounds.

The Word of God quells doubts.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) – “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

Slowly experiencing and enjoying the knowledge of God’s Word leaves doubt behind.

Now, disciple, when doubt arises, look to Scripture.