What person of faith has not dealt with doubt? What person hasn’t experienced the destruction of doubt? Since that describes all of us, is there an effective way to deal with the problem? The answer is, YES!
Doubt and God’s Love
This is fairly easy to grasp from a 30,000 ft. view. That’s a term one friend uses when he just wants the highlights of a mission effort. The details are largely absent but the essence is still present. Sometimes we need that high overview of Scripture. It’s easy for us to get down into the verse-by-verse stuff and lose a bigger picture. But both views are helpful.
The 30,000 ft. view of Scripture begins and ends with God’s perfection. He made all that is and He made it perfectly. His design shows us His intention for open fellowship with the pinnacle of His creation: Man. The book of Revelation shows us time will end when God has restored what He originally created: a perfect environment for eternal fellowship with Man (you and me!).
That means all the stuff in the middle of those two events is a record of God’s work to return His creation to its intended order, design, and purpose. Believe it or not, that’s a helpful thing to know when dealing with doubt. It shows us God’s intentions for us, and about us, have never changed. If we needed more proof, we need only look at Romans 5:8 –
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So many people falsely labor under the assumption (a lie!) that they must do something in order for God to love them. Further, they believe there is some act they can commit which would cause God to love them less (another lie!). Never doubt God’s love for you!!!
Doubt and God’s Goodness
Here is a very simple question: Is God good? I find myself asking this question over and over. It’s so simple yet so important. God’s goodness exceeds our ability to comprehend it. Stated negatively, God cannot be or do anything that is not good. Ponder that for a minute or two.
We see life and its problems from our perspective. We have problems and think our prayers have not been answered. The truth is, God is aware of our situation just like Scripture says He is aware of every sparrow that falls. How much more important are we than the sparrows? Since our Father can’t be anything but good, His answers to our needs must always be the perfect answer. The problem isn’t His answer. The problem is our self-oriented viewpoint. We have to admit we don’t actually know what is best for us. He does know and every good and perfect gift comes from Him! Never doubt His goodness.
Doubt and Deception
When we doubt God’s love or His goodness we are in a prime position for deception. Our enemy is a deceiver. Scripture calls him the father of lies. One need only look at the original sin in the Garden of Eden to see him at work. His words were:
Did God really say…?
Behind that question is an invitation to doubt God’s goodness. When we doubt His goodness we question His love. Or, if we question his love we do the same with His goodness. The two are bound together in Who and what our Father is. Doubting sets us up for deception. And here is something that probably makes us all uncomfortable:
God’s goodness and love are not dependent upon my understanding.
His ways and thoughts are as high above ours as the heavens are above the earth. Get used to it. Rest in it. And never doubt His love and goodness! My understanding is not required, but my faith and trust is!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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