Have you ever been through a season where life didn’t go as planned? Maybe a vacation you planned was canceled or a cruise was postponed. Or maybe you didn’t get into your top school for college. Most of us have gone through a season where life took an unexpected turn. It can cause pain from unmet expectations, make us stress, and even cause us to doubt the Lord’s goodness.
Yup. Sometimes situations in life can cause us to doubt God.
Sinful Human Nature includes Doubt
In his new book, Redeemed: Our Lives as Sinners and Saints, author Dan Hoppen reminds us that as fallen humans, we doubt the power of our God. In fact, some of the most well-known Bible figures doubted, too. Abraham doubted that God would give him and his wife Sarah a son in their old age. Zechariah, the priest, doubted the angel’s words that his wife Elizabeth, who had been barren, would conceive and bear a son named John.
But you know what? God, in His goodness, mercy, and deep-rooted love for His Creation, upheld His promises. Despite the doubt, despite the fear, the Lord provided for both Abraham and Zechariah. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is full of examples of the Lord providing for His people. Take a look at these five verses below:
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Our God is loving, kind, and patient. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He has a plan for our lives that’s bigger than anything we could imagine. Trust Him—He knows what He’s doing, even if it’s not exactly on our timeline.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
It’s okay to bring our doubts to God. And it’s okay to bring requests, too. He may not always respond how we hope, but that doesn’t mean we should stop praying. When we bring our fears and doubts to the foot of the cross, we experience peace and freedom.
Psalm 112:7
“[The person who fears the Lord] is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
What a courageous, confidence-filled verse! We can always count on God, in every circumstance.
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
As Christians, we live by faith and not by sight. This can be difficult at times. But we can rest in the assurance that God is in control and that we will receive the crown of eternal life when our earthly lives end. By faith, we know that God is working, even if we can’t physically see (or feel) it.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Our Lord promises to hear us when we speak to Him, and to provide in the way that He best sees fit. Even in our doubt, our job is to keep praying, keep asking, and keep seeking God. He is with us, even as we doubt, and he will be with us every step until (and into) eternity.
The next time you’re struggling with doubt, turn to these verses. Say them out loud or write them on the bathroom mirror. Cling to God, not your doubt, and watch Him do big things in your life.
For more ideas on how to combat doubt, fear, and distrust, order Redeemed by Dan Hoppen by clicking the button below.
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