The Cambridge English Dictionary says that the definition of doubt is a feeling of not knowing what to believe or what to do. The condition of being uncertain, apprehensive, or suspicious. The archaic definition of doubt means to fear or be afraid. So how can you overcome doubt?
DOUBT EQUALS FEAR
I find it interesting that doubt can mean to fear something. When I look back at when I had been doubtful, I can say that my doubt was grounded in the root of fear.
Fear of not having enough money to pay the bills
Fear of not knowing what the future holds
Fear of my health not getting any better
Fear of making the wrong choice or decision
What I am doing is fearing God’s capability to take care of my situations. And to God I am sinning. Because I am questioning God’s character, goodness, and faithfulness.
James 1: 6-8 says that a doubting man is unstable. For a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Even recently I have been doubting God’s ability to take care of the sales that are not coming into my Etsy store. I thought I was believing that God was capable of taking care me. But God showed me the verse in James and told me I was doubting him. I became upset, not with God, but with myself. Because if someone didn’t have faith in me, how would that make me feel? So I asked myself how does that make God feel when I don’t believe in what he is capable of doing?
About a month ago I prayed for God to show me whether I should continue with the Etsy store because my sales have been low and I don’t want to spend all my time putting material to sell in the store and it not be profitable. I was hoping the store would be a second income for me and my husband. But it was proving not to be true. So I was beginning to worry about our finances.
In prayer God told me I needed to be still and he gave me Ephesians 3:20 which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” God wanted me to think and ponder on that verse everytime my thoughts went to worring about our finances.
I needed to stop striving. Stop doubting. Stop fearing the worst. And let go.
EXAMPLES OF DOUBT IN THE BIBLE
There are many examples of doubt in the bible. But one was in Genesis 3, when Satan tempted Eve. God had given a clear command regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan then introduced doubt into Eve’s mind when he asked her “Did God actually say……?” Eve then questioned and doubted what God had told her.
Another example would be when Peter doubted Christ’s ability to keep him from drowning (Matthew 14: 31). Once Peter started to doubt Christ’s ability he stopped walking on the water. Peter lost sight of Christ’s power which kept him from drowning.
Doubt is one of Satan’s tools to make you lack confidence or faith in God’s word. Anytime you allow human reason to overtake your faith in God, sinful doubt is the result. No matter how logical your reasons may seem, God’s plans are far wiser than man’s. Faith is trusting God even when his plan goes against human reason.
1 Corinthians 3: 18-19 says, " Do deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a fool so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."
Isaiah 55: 8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
5 WAYS TO OVERCOME DOUBT
Have faith – Know that God knows everything that you need. And ask God for unwaverable faith.
Philippians 4: 19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Read the bible everyday – the more you read God’s word the more doubt will flee and the more at peace you will be.
Pray – even when you don’t feel like it. Ask God to show you the best way to handle the situation.
Be honest with God – tell him exactly how you feel. Satan doesn’t want you to go to the Lord. He wants you to stay in fear.
Ask God for encouragement – I ask God many times to encourage me throughout the day and he will, you just need to ask.
CONCLUSION
I hope you are encouraged by this post. As I am writting it God has been reminding me to stay the course, stand firm, and not give up. And when my doubts surface I am to think about his word and specifically Ephesians 3: 20. Remember Satan wants you to doubt your faith in God. Let’s not let him gain a foothold. Let’s show him who is boss! Let’s remind him of who God is!
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