The Problem of Doubt

The words doubt, doubter and doubting occur only twenty one times in the word of God. Webster gives this definition of doubt: To waver or fluctuate in opinion; to hesitate; to be in suspense; to be in uncertainty, respecting the truth or fact; to be undetermined. To fear; to be apprehensive; to suspect. The apostle John says "He that believeth not God hath made him a liar."

Like any other sin, the stronghold of doubt is in the will and the will or purpose to doubt must be surrendered to God exactly as you surrender the will or purpose to yield to any other temptation such as drunkenness or adultery. Sins are very deceptive and avoid discovery within us because we are sinful. Sins of the flesh; that is, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and others are readily recognized as sins. However some of the more 'respectable' sins such as unbelief, worry, fear, doubt, timidity, procrastination, anger and others are not always labeled as sins but may be considered to be weakness, character traits, temperament and other faults which ignore the reality. Most of the sins of the spirit could be classed under two headings, anger and fear.

Let's look at Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Now in this verse the fearful are at the top of the list of people who have committed sins serious enough to be consigned to the Lake of Fire. Number two on the list, which is unbelief, is another that is to be considered not so bad but is, in fact, the only sin that will send a person to hell. These two sins are mostly excused by us as weakness. Jesus said in Mat 13:58 and he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief, speaking of his attempted ministry in his own country of Nazareth. The sins of unbelief and fear comprise the sin of doubt and are considered more than just character flaws by our Father.

With most of us doubt has become a luxury. We excuse it by blaming any number of things which would keep us from recognizing it for the black dark wicked sin of unbelief that it is. All doubts are an attack of the enemy and the Holy Spirit never suggests sin, never. He is the comforter, not the accuser. He never shows us our need without at the same time revealing the divine supply. Our heavenly Father is not as cruel as we make him out to be by our disbelieving his ability to keep us and give us victory.

As you read this article, are you going over in your mind the things that trouble you? Are you struck with fear because of circumstances that seem impossible? Do relationships come to mind with people who offend you or try to hurt you, or hate or persecute you? Many times the greatest defense against the giant doubt is just to take action. It is all too easy to be frozen by inaction. Take the first step; make the phone call, make things right with that friend, pay that bill, go to the offending party and express yourself in a non-offensive manner and preserve that friendship. When you take action and do the first duty, you will find that many doubts will be resolved.

Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, is commonly referred to as Doubting Thomas. He is recorded as saying that he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw the holes in his hands and the hole in his side. Jesus then appeared and said in John 20:27 - 29 to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Our first resource against doubt is, of course, the word of God. In the book of Revelation chapters one through three we read of the Lord speaking to the overcomers in the seven churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life; To him will I give power over the nations; To him that overcometh; shall not be hurt of the second death, will I give to eat of the hidden manna; shall be clothed with white raiment; I will write upon him my new name; To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. The key word in all of these passages to the individuals in each of the churches is 'overcometh.' We see in I John 5:4b.....and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. God has given us all of the weapons necessary to fight any battle that we face. 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

God gives us examples in the Old Testament scriptures of how he delivered Israel many times when all seemed hopeless. De 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God He shall fight for you. De 3:29 Dread not, neither be afraid of them. Paul stated in Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Notice the phrase; "by the faith of the Son of God." So we see by this that when we exercise faith, it is not just our little bit of faith that matters, but it is our little faith joined with the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, and this makes it enormous faith. This is the faith that overcometh the world.

We must give our sin of doubt to Jesus and believe him to deliver us as he would from any other sin. We must assert with great determination, I WILL NOT DOUBT!! God is my Father and I am his forgiven child, Jesus saves me now. We are told in Heb. 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. We may need to re-affirm our determination against the sin of doubt many times, but God is faithful and will give the victory as we labour to enter into that rest. If the Christian life is anything it is a battlefield and God gives the victory as we labour and not faint. Jesus said "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Let us labour therefore to enter into HIS rest.