#write31days | October 4
Several weeks ago I was talking to one of my friends about a significant life situation she was dealing with and questioning herself over if she was doing the right thing or not. Maybe you’re familiar with these questions, too? They come from doubt.
Often we try to justify ourselves in doubt.
Ask others to confirm or deny the things we have doubts over.
Or, believe lies about situations because of doubt.
And, so many other responses, ultimately to disguise the doubt.
Or, maybe that is just me.
If there’s something that I come back to fighting over and over again, it is doubt.
Some of that is because of things that have happened to me. Because of things someone has said. Because of something someone has done. Ultimately they create a pattern of doubt based on a circumstance that has happened once that was significant or multiple times.
I doubt ______________ will work out.
Over and over again. I’ve had to wait a lot in my life, and I think waiting has contributed to my resolution of doubt. Self preservation also sets lower expectations if I’m already doubting _____________ to work out. Then, I’m not so disappointed.
But, this I know. Doubt is a lie.
A lie of who I was created to be.
A lie of what I can have.
A lie of what people will do/say/be to me.
A lie of inferiority.
A lie of ____________. The list goes on.
The only way I know to combat lies is with truth. So, I have to #doitagain. And, #doitagain the next time.
Circling the thing I doubt. Believing the walls will fall. That God knows my days, my desires, my abilities and my time is in his hands. He will deliver. If I am faithful. Sometimes that only way I know to be faithful is to circle and pray truth over lies of doubt. Those doubts all come from someone. And, someone is just an opinion. They are not my purpose. Nor are they my destiny. Shelley Giglio is one of my favorite Instagram followers as she shares so much wisdom and truth. This post caught my eye recently:
Doubt is not new to God. And, God will continue to be faithful in our doubts.
This verse is truth and a reminder. Testing of faith produces perseverance. If I need wisdom to persevere, I should ask for it. Then believe without doubt that God will give me wisdom. And, isn’t that what we’re (maybe just me?) usually seeking in situations where we are looking to calm our doubts? Someone wise.
“2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:2-6
Let’s ask for wisdom for ourselves from God.
With confident faith.
Keep persevering.
Believe Jesus will hear our prayers.
Cast our doubt to the sea.
Then #doitagain the next time doubt creeps in.
Other favorite reminders from scripture on doubt…
Thomas questioning if Jesus had really risen from the grave (John 20:24-29)
Peter doubting he could walk on water (Matthew 14:22-33)
If you’re just joining in from #write31days, I’m so glad you’re here!
You can {click here} to find links for all posts in this series.