The Struggle With Doubt
Matthew 21:18-22
Some of our doubts seem too small to warrant our attention. Other doubts have been with us so long that we hardly notice them any more. Just because they are small or unnoticed, however, does not mean they do not impact us. Crises have a way of revealing our uncertainties and adding to our emotional distress.
How do doubts affect us?
Our relationship with God is definitely impacted by doubt. We cannot have intimacy with God or please Him when we doubt what He says. Scripture tells us that our heavenly Father takes pleasure in us only if we trust Him: “And without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).” Assurance and certainty are to be the characteristics of our faith – not doubt. Without sure belief, our relationship with God suffers.
A second consequence of doubt surfaces in our prayer life. It is doubt that short-circuits faith and causes our prayers to become null and void. If we believe God and do not doubt Him, we will have the privilege of experiencing His power to do things that, humanly speaking, are unattainable. Lives will be changed because we believed God and did not waver.
Doubt hinders our service to God as well. How many of us have neglected to answer God’s call because we questioned our ability? How often have we hesitated to share the Gospel because we were unsure of having the right words?
Spend time right now in the Scriptures, and allow the Spirit to reveal the certainty of God’s truth.
Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries