Doubting is Destructive
After a number of years rotating time during the holidays between both sides of parents, a certain wife decided to try her hand at her first Thanksgiving turkey. “Now I know I have never done this on my own before. I have seen it done a number of times, though. However, if it does not turn out to be any good, we will just get right up and go to Cracker Barrel,” she told her family.
She retreated to the kitchen to begin the momentous event. She toiled all morning and into the afternoon. She emerged late in the day and announced that she would be ready to eat at 5:00 pm.
The appointed time arrived. When the woman exited the kitchen with her first turkey, she was struck with an odd scene. Her family was sitting at the dining room table fully dressed in coats, gloves, and hats. They were ready for their trip to the restaurant.
Doubt is a destructive disease. It is difficult to trust someone or something that has constantly let you down. There are, though, many who doubt even when there is no evidence to support it. Doubt can hinder prayer (James 1:5-7) because confidence affects the mind of God (I John 5:14-15). Doubt can produce fear (Psalm 53:1-6). Doubt can lead to condemnation (Romans 14:23).
God told the children of Israel that He had given them the land of Canaan. When they came to the land and learned that it was filled with very large fighting men, they doubted and refused to enter. Hebrews 4:2 records, “…the word which they heard did not profit them not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” They doubted God to their own destruction. When our doubts arise from failing to trust God, that is when we are dangerously close to destruction.
Doubt, though, does not always signal faithfulness. Moses had doubts about his abilities (Genesis 3-4). David had doubts about God’s desire to stay with him (Psalm 22:1-2). John the baptizer had doubts about whether Jesus was the promised Messiah (Luke 7:18). Thomas had doubts that Jesus had truly been resurrected (John 20:24-29).
The problem with doubt is not the doubt itself. The challenge is what we do with the doubt when it comes. Here are some things that God has left us to help when the doubt comes.
Be honest. Jesus encountered a man whose son was constantly throwing himself in a fire or into the water because he was demon possessed. He asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus said that if he believed, he would. The father responded that he believed and then added, “Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). Jesus healed him.
Admit that you will not always understand. God told the people through the prophet that He was about to do a work among them that they would not believe even if they saw it (Habakkuk 1:5). That was ok.
Decide that you want to be a believer. The prophet Isaiah wrote about people who were hardened and did not believe even though they had seen so many signs (John 12:37). Their desire not to believe was their problem.
Go where faith can be found. “So then faith comes by hearing by the word of God. “ (Romans 10:17). When you want to believe, God has left plenty of evidence for us (Acts 14:17).
— Mike Johnson
