Struggling With Doubt

Doubt can be an uncertainty that produces hesitation; it can be a questioning that leads to investigation; it can be a lack of confidence that leads to distrust and unbelief.  Of these three forms of doubt, only the last deserves rebuke. There is a broad spectrum of doubt: At one end is faith and at the other, unbelief.  If not stopped, waves of doubt can build until the breakers crash over your soul, leaving your faith "shipwrecked".  But you need not sink.

• "Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them."  Mark 11:23
• "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." Hebrews 3:12
• "holding onto faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith."  1 Timothy 1:19

Jesus' disciples were plagued by doubt. Yet Jesus patiently teaches them, loves them and cares for them. How is Jesus acting on your behalf when you doubt?  The disciples reached a point, however, when they are repeatedly confronted with truth yet continually doubt.  Jesus them rebukes them for their lack of faith. (Mark 16:9-13)

• Read John 20:24-29  Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared after his resurrection to the rest of the disciples. Perhaps Thomas did not believe the disciples story.  He couldnt respond in love and gentleness, "Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side." Jesus offered tangible evidence to Thomas to strengthen and build his faith then told him, "Stop doubting and believe."
• When doubt assails you, examine your heart.  Is your doubt simply a mental questioning or testing? If so, don't berate yourself. Seem wisdom and continue to test all things.  If your doubt arises from hardness of heart, repent and ask God for greater faith.  Jesus is the "perfecter of faith". It is only through your trust in him that your faith will be built up and that your doubts will finally and fully be put to rest.

• "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." James 1:5
• "but test them all; hold on to what is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
• "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior" Titus 1:1-3

God's Pursuit of You

Each day in the Garden of Eden is perfect.  The soft ground cushions Adam and Eve's bare feet.  The dew waters their surroundings to a perfect, lush green.  Evenings in the garden are even better- if perfection can be improved on.  That's when Adam and Even walk with God.  His presence surpasses the rest of their day and brings them joy and peace.
But this day is different.  They hear the "sound of the Lord God" as he walks "in the garden in the cool of the day".  But they don't run to meet him.  They don't feel the way they used to.  They hide because they are filled with shame, a new emotion for them.
God is calling you too.  Are you running to meet him- or are you hiding from him?  Shame can prevent an intimate, personal relationship with God.  But it's important to differentiate between true sham and false shame.  You feel true shame if you feel guilty for your sin.  You feel false shame if you feel dirty because another person sinned against you.  If you have been wounded by someone else's sin, you may feel a sense of shame, but it is not true shame.  Bring true shame to the cross of Jesus for forgiveness.  Bring false shame into the arms of Jesus for healing.
If your sin seems too great or horrible to be forgiven or if your shame seems so overwhelming that it can't be removed, remember, Jesus loves you so much that he has already taken your sin and shame on himself.  He makes you clean from it. Receive his gift and let him wash your shame away.

• Read Acts 22:3-21.  Paul tells the crowd he had been passionate in his persecution of Jesus' followers.  He had thought he was pleasing God by destroying those heretics.  At his conversion Paul discovered the truth.  By persecuting Jesus' followers, he had been persecuting God.  Yet God forgave Paul and used him in a mighty way. 

In spite of your past- no matter what you have done- God loves you and has plans for you.  You can believe him when he says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

jack johnson.

I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home

She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying

But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile and you can change all of mine
We share the same soul
Oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh ohhh
Oh oh oh ohhh
Umm umm umm uhhhhhhmm
<3