ANTIOCH CHURCH OF CHRIST

When In Doubt

When In Doubt...

If we were to be totally honest, some of our most uncomfortable times are when we have doubts. Because we want something very badly, we begin to doubt when things don't happen soon enough.

Jumping to unfounded conclusions plays a huge role in having doubts. We begin to let our minds go wild, and the next thing you know, we become 100% cynical. In fact, we speak of that which we doubt as if it were fact.
We must say at the first that doubting is not sinful. I'm confident that God at times uses our doubts to re-affirm our faith in Him. Rather, when we give in to doubt and abandon faith; that is the seed from which sin germinates. Where has faith gone? Where is trust in God and His ways to provide? What should we do when in doubt?

...Pray
The loss of heart can be conquered by prayer. Luke 18:1 says, "And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Only children of God have this right to address their Father in heaven. Remember...our Advocate is ever present before the throne to plead our case (1 John 2:1), "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” He knows our needs (Hebrews 4:15-16), "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace; that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Our petitions must be "in faith, with no doubting" (James 1:5-6), "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

...Do something about it
Faith is not faith if all it does is wait around for someone or something else to do us a favor. God expects those who can help themselves to do so. He will supply what we cannot. Consider Paul's predicament in Acts 27:13-38. He and the others were in a terrible storm. Great time to doubt, right? The apostle said that there were some things they had to do to help themselves. God would do the rest.

...Give others the benefit
Look at 1 Corinthians 13:7. "Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” True love for others should see us through the urge to doubt them, or even believe what we hear about them that is not good. Unless we have evidence to the contrary, we must give them the benefit. "Love believes all things." When shown the contrary, we still must not doubt, but hope for the best. "Love hopes all things." We should do for others what we would want them to do for us (Luke 6:31), "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Matthew 7:12) When in doubt...don't give up on God, yourself, or others. Keep loving God and doing right. It all will turn out for the best (Romans 8:28), "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

Jimmy

Adapted: Bro Jeff Smith

11/08/09 am