“‘If you’ll be able to?” said Jesus. “Everything is feasible for one who believes.” Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do imagine; help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:23-24
The word “doubt” carries its negative undertones and implications. Sometimes doubt might be a very good thing. Even if uncomfortable, it will probably make us appropriately wary and watchful. On the opposite hand, for our human side, doubt doesn’t generally sit well with us. In most cases, our senses reject doubt as an indication of something improper. In other words, a insecurity or assurance in something.
In many cases, if we’ve doubts, we will move ahead cautiously. But in relation to our faith, that one doesn’t work. It looks like the Lord expects us to have complete and robust faith. That is what the Bible teaches anyway. Or does it?
We first examine Biblical doubt as early because the Garden of Eden, and Satan drove the doubt. God had given a transparent command regarding the trees within the garden, and specified the results of disobeying that command:
And the Lord God commanded the person, “You are free to eat from any tree within the garden; but it’s essential to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of excellent and evil, for if you eat from it you will definitely die.” – Genesis 2:16-17
Yet Satan raised doubt. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree within the garden?” Then, upon Eve’s response about God’s words, the evil one added, “You won’t actually die.” I can see him now, leaning against the tree to prove his point. Doubt is totally one in every of the tools in Satan’s bag of tricks to make us query – doubt – God’s word. But we cannot lay the entire blame at his feet – we, too, are guilty of a lot of our own doubts.
We need only compare the quite distinct differences within the responses of Zechariah and Mary when visited by Gabriel in Luke 1. While their inquiries to Gabriel seem similar, there was clearly doubt in Zechariah’s heart and acceptance in Mary’s heart. Zechariah doubted God’s ability to deliver on the promise Gabriel delivered. Mary didn’t.
How about us? When we pray, will we doubt that the Lord can deliver on His guarantees? Or possibly we’re doubting that He even is listening. As that doubt grabs hold, it will probably bring us deeper into the depths – into the realm where our doubt can overshadow our faith or at the least push it to the side. We begin to permit our human reason to cause us to query God’s role in our lives. And yet – regardless of the human logic behind our doubts, God has made silly the world’s wisdom.
Has not God made silly the wisdom of the world? – 1 Corinthians 1:20
When Doubt and Faith Collide
It shouldn’t be news that faith means trusting God even when the concept goes against human reason or arguments. Even so, throughout Jesus’ ministry, He encountered doubt from those hearing His words. Even John the Baptizer—Jesus’ own cousin—needed to send two of his followers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one? Have I placed my faith within the improper one?”
John’s disciples told him about all these items. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who’s to come back, or should we expect another person?” – Luke 7:18-19
Let us keep in mind that that is the exact same John who identified Jesus as “…Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29-34) How did John go from assurance to asking if Jesus was the One? Answer – his circumstances. John was being held in a Roman prison and was soon to be executed.
Of course, we cannot forget the person who became so famous for his doubts on the resurrection of Jesus that it earned him a nickname that will follow him ceaselessly – Doubting Thomas. Yet, when Jesus received word concerning the death of Lazarus, it was Thomas who spoke up in strength to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16) Poor Thomas, as his name has grow to be a cliché synonymous with doubt. Yet in all of those, nobody questions the religion and devotion to Jesus of John the Baptist or Thomas.
Then we come to the person in Mark 9, whose son was possessed by an evil spirit. As Jesus got here down the mountain from His transfiguration, the person approached Jesus, explaining that he had asked the disciples to drive the spirit out, but they were unable. When Jesus asked for the boy to be dropped at Him, He asked the daddy how long the boy had been like that. After answering, the person asked for Jesus’ help: “If you’ll be able to do anything take pity on us and help us.” Jesus didn’t appear to be stunned in any respect at the person’s doubts or lack of religion. He replied, What do you mean, if I can? Then this – “Everything is feasible for one who believes.” Worth repeating Jesus’ words. “Everything is feasible for the one who believes.”
Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do imagine; help me overcome my unbelief!”
The man’s answer was an announcement of religion and doubt – contradictory feelings mixed into one in the person’s heart and mind. The man believed and hoped – otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought his son to Jesus. He had asked some disciples to solid out the spirit, yet they may not, perhaps causing some doubt. On the opposite hand, would Jesus be willing? Was Jesus really who He proclaimed to be?
Faith and doubt are strange bedfellows, of course. Yet, it’s pretty sure that almost all Christians have been capable of discover with this man sooner or later. We must sometimes recognize in our lives that our faith is removed from perfect and switch to the Lord and ask Him to strengthen that faith. Our doubts appear to intermingle with the religion we still know and feel. But…sometimes we’ve to ask, “Lord, help me to have much more!” I do have faith! Help me to have much more!” – Mark 9:24 CEV
What to Do When Your Doubt Feels Bigger Than Your Belief
Immediately following Jesus’ driving out of the demon, the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t achieve this. What was Jesus’ answer?
“Because you’ve gotten so little faith. Truly I inform you, if you’ve gotten faith as small as a mustard seed, you’ll be able to say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it should move. Nothing might be unimaginable for you.” – Matthew 17:19-20
So often, it looks like my faith must not be even the scale of a mustard seed, as I’m wondering if my prayers might be answered – or if God is hearing me. Prayers that remain as yet unanswered – and I’m wondering if it’s my inadequacy of religion driving it. It is significant to recollect, though, that the boy’s dad couldn’t deny the doubts he had and had already expressed, albeit circuitously. But Jesus clearly knew the doubts were there and saved the person’s son anyway. And therein lies our answer.
While faith and doubt may sometimes co-exist inside us, as difficult as it could sound, the treatment for doubt is faith. It is clinging to that which we all know to be true. To what we’ve heard, because the writer of Hebrews put it:
Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we’ve heard, lest we drift away from it. (v. 2:1)
When we come to salvation in Christ, we acknowledge our inadequacy. That admission, that give up, allows God to work in our lives. We are all inadequate sinners; thus, we realize our need for salvation and make an apology. Similarly, we will recognize our inadequacy in faith—that our faith is imperfect. The admission of our weakness, coupled with our faith, allows us to show to the Lord and ask Him to strengthen us where we’re weak. And he does so.
Just as a baby changes its weight loss program from milk to solid food, so must we grow – and proceed to grow in our faith. We come to Christ as spiritual babies, growing and being nurtured in our faith – our sanctification. This analogy, after all, is taught by Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth, and again, in Hebrews (5:12-14).
Paul recognized that the Corinthians were still baby Christians, not yet ready. Many baby Christians have been saved, yet remain babies. They haven’t grown spiritually of their relationship to Christ. We cannot grow to be adults if we proceed on a weight loss program of milk. Personal growth in Christ—abiding in Him—is a commitment we must each make.
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you weren’t yet ready for it. Indeed, you might be still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there may be jealousy and quarreling amongst you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? – 1 Corinthians 3:2-3
Trusting God Even When the Outcome Is Unclear
As we mature in Christ, our faith continues to grow, and our doubts proceed to fade. Those doubts may never evaporate, but perhaps we will recognize them for what they’re and switch to the Lord. Turn and ask Him, undergo His will, and imagine that He will help us overcome whatever doubt we could have.
Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3? Yeah, those guys. When they were thrown into the flames, being watched by tons of of Nebuchadnezzar’s men, they didn’t back down from the king. They knew that God won’t save them from the flames. Was that doubt? Well, they weren’t convinced that God would keep them from burning – but they still refused to offer in to the king.
“If we’re thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is capable of deliver us from it, and he’ll deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even when he doesn’t, we wish you to know, Your Majesty, that we’ll not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you’ve gotten arrange.”
We will all face moments or circumstances after we lack enough faith to proceed. At those moments, allow us to keep in mind that even the strength of our faith comes from the Father. Let us turn to Him, realizing that it’s His work in us that strengthens and renews us and enables us to beat any doubts or any faith smaller than a mustard seed.
As with every part, we will ask God for what we want. We can ask Him to strengthen our faith to beat whatever doubt we could be having. That statement, that request, is the religion that we want. Knowing He is there, and He will help us—a technique or one other. Maybe not as we’re asking or as we expect, but He might be there.
“I think; help my unbelief” is first an absolute statement of our faith and an admission that our faith is removed from perfect and that we want His help. Like Paul, we will then boast in our weakness because that’s when He is powerful.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I’ll boast all of the more gladly about my weaknesses, in order that Christ’s power may rest on me. -2 Corinthians 12:9
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the attitude of an on a regular basis guy on the identical journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg might be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp – Author.
