March 30, 2007 – Winning the Struggle with Doubt – James 1:5-8
Doubt can lead to anxiety, frustration, and fear. All of those emotions can short-circuit our faith. A nagging sense of insecurity can come from a variety of sources:
First, uncertainties can develop from a lack of knowledge about God’s character, confusion regarding His promises, or a misunderstanding of His plans. Second, insecurity can result from the presence of sin in our lives. Sin may prompt us to question biblical truth in an attempt to justify our actions. Third, focusing on circumstances instead of the Lord’s sufficiency can drain away our hope and joy. Fourth, insecurity can be caused by past failures which can result on a more pessimistic outlook on life. Finally, other people’s criticism can also make us feel insecure. Whatever the cause, when we’re overwhelmed with doubt, our usefulness to God is limited.
Believers’ fears are a tool of the Enemy. Satan will often add his own words to increase our negative thinking. He reminds us of past mistakes and seemingly unanswered prayers. His age-old technique of questioning God’s direction makes us wonder if we truly know the Lord’s will. As the Father of Lies, Satan tries to twist the truth to serve his purposes.
When doubts surface, confess them as sin. Remember other times you trusted God and His faithfulness, and meditate on His promises. The Holy Spirit will guide you into truth so you can overcome.
Doubt doesn’t fit who we are as children of God. We are permanently adopted into His family, heirs, and co-heirs with His Son, Jesus. As believers, our character is defined when we walk in step with God.
