Your doubts do not trouble God. He is not surprised by them nor do they make Him pull away from you.
When you find yourself struggling with doubt, you find yourself among some of the “Greats” in the Bible like Job, Abraham, Sarah, Gideon, and Thomas, just to name a few.
Job doubted God’s goodness when his children died and his livelihood was gone.
Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s promise as they grew older and found themselves still without a child of their own.
Gideon doubted God could use a man like him to fight his upcoming battle.
And of course, our beloved Thomas, he doubted Jesus rose from the dead…
Maybe that’s where you find yourself today, too.
You doubt God’s goodness because of what has been taken from you.
You doubt God’s promises because His timing is not yours.
You doubt God’s ability to use a woman like you with your past, your weakness and your mistakes.
Like Thomas, maybe you doubt God’s resurrection ability for your life.
Wherever you find yourself today, realize this…it is normal to struggle with doubt. We all do.
Even John the Baptist, found himself doubting if Jesus was the true Messiah as he sat in prison awaiting his looming death.
“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” – Matthew 11:3
A surprising question coming from the very man who earlier had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” At that moment in his life, John was so certain.
Yet, now sitting in prison, he was plagued with tormenting doubts and fears. Had his ministry been in vain? Had he been wrong about Jesus? Was God now punishing him for his mistake? The doubts and accusations surrounding his thoughts made him feel as though he couldn’t breathe and he wondered…had he lived his life in vain?
Getting straight to the point, John sent his disciples directly to Jesus and asked, “Are you the One who is to come…?”
Jesus intentionally responds not with condemnation or judgment but with an invitation for John’s Disciples to see for themselves. Jesus brought them close and let them see first hand how He was fulfilling the very Scriptures He knew John the Baptist needed to hear. Prophecies brought to life which would bring hope and faith to John’s struggling heart.
They saw the blind receive their sight, the lame able to walk, lepers cured, the deaf able to hear, the dead raised and the good news preached to the poor. Oh, how gracious our Lord is to go to such lengths to show John’s Disciples that He was the long-awaited Messiah.
Jesus didn’t just speak it; He took the time to live it. He knew John would recognize Isaiah’s prophecy in those testimonies and that’s exactly what he needed to hear to help build his faith and place his trust back in Christ.
Like David in Psalm 13 and John the Baptist in Matthew 11, we need to go to God with raw, unfiltered requests that get straight to the point. You don’t have to beat around the bush with Him, He knows your struggles, and He sees your doubt. Just be honest and lay it all out before Him.
And don’t forget this truth…He loves you in the midst of your doubt. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Place your doubts, fears, and anxiety into His capable hands. Then allow Him to take you on a journey from doubt to faith. It may not be a quick trip, but it’s worth the ride.
It’s natural to doubt; it’s supernatural to have faith.
Right after John the Baptist’s Disciples go back to tell him the news, Jesus turned to those gathered around him and said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of woman there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist…”
You see that….Jesus praised John for the way he lived his life.
John’s doubts didn’t hinder Jesus’ praise for him…and neither do yours.
Next time when you find yourself struggling with oppressing doubts, pray like the desperate father in Mark 9.
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”- Mark 9:24
And Jesus will.
Let’s Talk: How has God help you to move from doubt to faith?
Love God Greatly!
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Stay tuned for an exciting additional blog post coming out on Thursday!!!
Thanks for your words today Angela! I feel like we all struggle with doubt at different times in our lives. I know when going through divorces I was sure Jesus had forgotten me or didn’t want me to be his anymore. During times of financial trouble as a single mom I often wondered why me? I’ve always believed, I just let doubt drag me down and that’s when I needed to drop to my knees and pray and ask what I was supposed to learn from this, not why me. But even in my most angry sad times, times when I was mad at God, I knew he was there. I just didn’t stop being mad long enough to ask for forgiveness or guidance. But when I did….oh boy! He filled my empty angry heart with love and grace and mercy and a peace covered over me like a blanket. I am struggling a right now financially, I’m having a period where I don’t want to go to church and I dont know why and would appreciate prayers. BUT, instead of being anxious or unsure, I know God will provide for me what I need, when I need it. I just need to stop, just be still and pray with an honest open heart. I need to ask for guidance and wisdom because I know his answers will be the right ones. These studies and the women in them help keep me in his word and my heart at peace and I feel blessed to be a part of them. If you all wouldn’t mind keeping me in your prayers I would appreciate it. God is good!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
Mondee, I will be praying for you. Life is hard but it is worth the journey. In the end we will be together in paradise.
Mondee,
Oh, sweet friend! Life gets tough, doesn’t it? We are human so doubt is something we all face. I have also struggled with divorce and questioned God in the process. Over 16 years later and still single, I have a different perspective. Thank you so much for sharing with us today. Please know God has not abandoned you, has a plan for your life and that you are being prayed over. God Bless You!
i am really glad to read through this page and its indeed a blessing. our sister Mondee story is pathetic but am a stronger believer that time heals every wound. i was separated from my husband due to abuse and domestic violence. i ran way for 4 yrs from my marriage and had processed my divorce and waiting to be finally free. but i had no peace of mind because, i couldn’t forgive my husband for putting through such pain. i was lonely and hurting but one day, the word of the Lord came to me and ask me to let go of the hurts and pains and that i should forgive my husband. i began to pray about it and put up a call to my husband whom i told that from the debt of my heart i forgive. not because i still wanted to be married to him but because i want to make heaven at last. to cut a long story, we both forgave ourselves and the Lord began to lead both of us to reconcile. we did and today, we are still married and court case against him dismissed. he has become a better person as we both serve the Lord together. our love life has also been restored by God. going through a divorce can be terrifying but please pray and seek God in all you do. let God have the final say because there is no hopeless case with God. for me, i am happy AGAIN.
Mondee, may the Lord walk through u and comfort your heart
Wow. Thank you ladies for your honesty and for sharing your struggles. You are like Honest Thomas, perhaps he doubted himself more than Christ’s resurrection. Maybe he doubted how he would carry on without Jesus physically by his side. Praying our Lord will touch each of you at the point of your greatest need, which you might not even identify as such. Thank you LGG servants for your hearts for the Lord and for your fellow followers. Let us be honest as Thomas and as King David were. Let us claim deliverance from our trials, big and small, and the stabs, plots and ploys of our enemy, by the grace our holy, merciful and great Creator.
After losing a child, struggling and failing to become self employed when we strongly felt His call to step out in faith, and then losing my wonderful, Godly, amazing father, quite suddenly and unexplainably, I am struggling. I don’t doubt that God is good, or that He can reach into our lives. I doubt that He will. He just seems to have decided that we aren’t worth intervention. After being a Christian for 25 years, I have seen first hand many hills and valleys. This wilderness is far more vast and arid than anything I have encountered before. I am finally to a point of not being angry, and to a point where I want to move forward with my faith. Yet that still small voice and the peace that comes with it eludes me. Maybe I never will understand what these last three years have been about. But I don’t want them to have been in vain. I pray for restoration, that the former will be greater than the latter. I pray that we would see His goodness in the land of the living. I pray for a healing of our hearts, and that lthe laughter that is found in His presence would be found in our home again.
He seems to have decided we aren’t worth intervention….
Oh Sarah I am so sorry for your losses…. you are truly in the valley of the shadow of death … but God is with you.
Friends of ours have recently suffered the loss of their daughter…age 2… she was run over by her parent who thought she was in the car….her earthly father… in his brokenness he is humbled that God finds them worthy to feel the same pain He felt in giving Jesus for us on the cross.
In “Finding Joy” by John Piper he speaks of James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.”
Sarah… God never fails and he is with you even in this drought. Fight for the joy in your pain of loss and be victorious over the unbelief of anger bitterness and discouragement. Hold on and never let go… God is bringing you through.
Angela, thanks for sharing that example of John the Baptist…I’d never made those connections before! We’ve been trying to build ministry partnerships to go to Colombia as full-time missionaries since 2015, and while it is TOTALLY evident that God is blessing our journey and we are following His path for us, it is easy to identify with this quote from the post: “You doubt God’s promises because His timing is not yours.” We can serve Him in the “wherever we are,” in the “here and now,” but our hearts long to be in Colombia! If I had time to share the whole journey, it is a testament to God’s faithfulness, and I am humbled and in awe that I am one who gets to walk this path! But in the meantime, when those difficulties and doubts arise, “Lord, help my unbelief!”
Anna K,
Thank you for joining us today. What an amazing calling and journey you have ahead of you! To be able to reach others in another land and share God’s Word with them is so rewarding. Keep following His lead, and He will make a way for you. We are all encouraging you and praying for you along this journey. God Bless You!
Thank you Mondee for your heartfelt words and testimony of God’s grace. Yes, I struggle with doubt at times too. I pray that when those times of doubt arise that neither of us will become like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind, but rather confidently in faith ask God for wisdom (James 1:5-6). Big Hug to you Mondee and I’ll be praying for you!
Doubt, it’s a nasty thing isn’t it? But God is with us always. Thank you so mmuch for ch for joining us and sharing!
Angela, What profound statements this morning; Truths we ALL need to hear. I believe the seeds God allowed you to plant deep into our hearts this morning will take root and we will remember this day for years to come when we enter those ‘seasons of doubt’. Thank you for your faithfulness to pour His Truths into us. And Mondee, thank you for trusting your heart in being so open with your LGG sisters. For sure, you will be lifted to our Good Good Father beginning now. From experience, I know that feeling of desperation that causes one to cry out, “O God, where ARE You?” He was (and still is) right there with me ‘through it all’. And what He did/does for one of His, He does for all. Blessings on you this day and may the healing of your heart/mind/emotions begin this very day. You are loved!
Joan, thank you for joining us!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I love all our leaders at LGG, it’s a great community.
I relate to many of the comments & feel for those in the long, never ending valleys! We have been in one for almost 3 years. We were so thankful God had provided the way to a long awaited dream. Still are! Yet despite all the planning & work ahead to do it well, everything that could go wrong since, has. For 3 years we have been tested extensively in finances, health, marriage, talents, skills, family, spirituality…..everytime we pick ourselves up & determine we will get thru this, there is another challenge. Many weeks one thing after another, to the point of being almost funny. Is that joy in the trial?? We have seen Gods faithfulness over & over. We have grown in faith & trust. We know deep down His plan is perfect. But even in that knowing, the journey becomes exhausting & I find myself doubting. Not that God CAN step in. I know that! Question is, WILL He? It’s a true test of character learning to live with hope even when the circumstances don’t change! God knows the desires of our hearts, & like any parent, wants to give to his children. Why does He choose not to? I have to believe He sees the bigger picture & plans to use our circumstances for His glory. He knows the perfect time. So we wait. & in that waiting we sometimes doubt. I am so grateful we serve a God who understands our doubt, our hurts, our fears, & has compassion in those places too. For those that are in this space? Don’t give up!! Let’s lift each other in prayer to have the strength & courage to persevere so Gods plan will be fulfilled & we will be complete, not lacking anything!
Kyla,
Thank you so much for being with us today and sharing part of your life here. Beautifully said! While we are following where we feel God leading, His timing doesn’t always match ours. As we wait, we can begin to question and doubt. This is human nature and God knows our hearts. We must continue walking by faith trusting His plan will play out in the end; it always does! Surrounding ourselves with other supportive Christian friends is also a way to battle these seasons of doubt and drought. I’m not saying it is easy, because I know first hand it isn’t! Let’s lift each other in prayer and push forward toward His calling. God Bless You All!
Thank you so much !! I struggle so much with doubt because of my trust issues. God has done true miracles in my life and that’s one thing I need to remember ❤️
Same here ! Doubt is such a hard thing to overcome and I’ve seen miracles in my personal life. Yet I doubt. Mainly I doubt that He’d choose me.
I can relate to many of these comments and they are encouraging to me. I feel like we have been in the valley for the last 4 years. Adoption is NOT easy and waiting on God is not easy either. We have had multiple failed matches and a miscarriage. Things were going so well the last 2 months with our current birth mom we are matched with and then last week she decided to up and leave with out a phone so no one can contact her. I’m trying to not let fear creep in, but oh it is so hard. I find myself doubting Will we ever adopt? Does God care? The struggle is real friends. However, I do find myself clinging to God closer and crying out to Him more in times like this, but I wonder will it always be like this? My husband and I could really use prayer as we have found ourselves so weary in the waiting and trusting.