2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“Hang in there and don’t give up!”
There are many kinds of doubts.
Worry
Suspicion
Inferiority
Unbelief
James 1:6 "If any man doubts, he's like a wave bashed back and forth. He's unstable in all of his ways."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (Good News) “We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend, and though we badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.”
#1. Critics.
Critics do their best to cause us to doubt God.
Psalm 73:8-11 (LB) “They scoff at God…How proudly they speak! And so, God’s people are dismayed and confused and drink it all in. ‘Does God realize what is going on?’ they ask.”
Psalm 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart there is no God.”
Psalm 42:10-11 (LB) “…again and again they scoff, ‘Where is that God of yours?’ But O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act!”
#2. Conscience.
When you feel guilty, you tend to rationalize your beliefs to fit your lifestyle.
1 Timothy 1:19 (LB) “For some time people have disobeyed their conscience and have deliberately done what they knew was wrong. It isn’t surprising that soon they lost their faith in Christ, after defying God like that.”
Our morality often determines our theology and the way we want to act.
"I don't care what God says, I believe this…"
#3. Circumstances.
“Jesus, don’t You care if we drown?”
How do you keep your doubts from defeating you?
1. Admit your doubts.
They can't even face the fact that they have some legitimate, honest questions.
“Feel My hand; touch My side, Thomas.”
Jude 1:22 “Be merciful to those who doubt.”
Doubt is when you honestly don't know what God wants you to do in a situation.
Unbelief is when you know exactly what God wants you to do.
That's sin, and that's unbelief.
The strongest faith often comes out of struggles with your doubts.
2. Doubt your doubts.
We need to believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Do you listen to God's Word, or do you listen to your feelings?
3. Begin with the faith you already have.
Mark 9:24 “Lord, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”
Courage is not the absence of fear.
Our faith can be frail, yet it still gets the job done.
Matthew 17:20 “If you have faith as small as the mustard seed, nothing will be impossible to you.”
A little faith plus a big God equals significant results.
"Why didn't somebody ever tell me that I could become a Christian and work on all my doubts afterward?"
1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Let Jesus energize you with His Spirit.