Faith & Doubt
“Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith.” Elisabeth Elliot
The last few months our family has been walking through a difficult medical journey. We have prayed, fasted, prayed with friends & family; yet, each doctor’s visit we leave in tears and frustration.
The morning of the last doctor’s visit, I had a fleeting thought, “Only insane people keep doing the same thing expecting different results.” What a discouraging thought. I know I am not insane, and continuously petitioning God is not an act of insanity.
I wrestled all day with these thoughts of doubt and discouragement.
“Why?”
“What is wrong with my faith?”
“I know God still heals, but not today?”
As evening came, I went to bed with these thoughts flooding my heart and mind. I realized I was mentally digging up what I had planted in faith—doubt was working overtime to penetrate my mind.
The next morning, before I took a sip of my coffee, I opened my devotional. “This is crazy,” I thought, as my eyes fixed on that day’s topic: doubts and faith. God knows how to meet us in our moments—our moments of pain and perplexity, sin and suffering, doubt and disbelief—even our moments of haunted by “Why.”
I love how God will let us ask “Why,” uninhibited by our questions laced with doubt and frustration. He’s not shocked or startled, and He doesn’t fall off his throne with surprise. He is not stumped by our questions or left speechless for answers. But if we ask, we have to be prepared for the answer He gives. God’s response to Job’s questions is a perfect example: I will answer you, but you better be prepared to take it like a man! (Job 38:3) In that moment, I was prepared to take it like a woman!
Here are God’s answers to my doubt:
James 1:6 – But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
1. Petition your request
Matt 6:10 – Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
There is no sickness, disease, or brokenness in heaven. We can claim that on earth today.
Mark 10:51 – “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
The blind man was persistent as he called out to Jesus. He boldly asked to be healed, and Jesus healed him because of his faith!
2. Mindset: Ask in Faith
Pray for something that is immoveable. Faith stands on what it believes. I create a picture in my mind of my daughter’s healing. This is the immoveable image I hold onto. I won’t stop praying for anything less.
Exodus 14:14 – The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
3. Acclamation!
Acclamation means to enthusiastically approve, or welcome or honor something or somebody. In the midst of our doubts, we have to enthusiastically welcome God’s answer to our prayers. We have to align our hearts, minds, and words with His good and perfect will. We don’t do this on our own. God is faithful to provide help with our unbelief.
James 1:7 – People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Psalm 121:1-2 – I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Mark 9:24 – Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
More than anything, our faith walk is a character shaping issue. If you are struggling with anger, fear and worry – Ask Jesus to show you where he is in your journey. He will be at your bedside, the waiting room, standing next to you in the doctor’s office – He is there! My friend, you are never alone in this journey!
What are you asking and believing for in faith today? Or perhaps you have walked through a faith journey, and you can offer words of hope and comfort to others. I would love to hear your story as encouragement for those of us in the journey!
I am believing and standing firm on faith for God to:
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