Beyond Doubt

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6

Doubt. It is a pretty ugly word isn’t it? It is often taught in churches that we are to never doubt when we have faith. We are taught that doubt is the antithesis of faith and therefore we must avoid it at all costs. To this point I can only say that I DOUBT that is truly the case.

James teaches us that we are to have no doubt. He teaches that if we do doubt then we are simply like an undulating wave of indecision that lacks the strength to be decisive. We will walk this earth doubting our abilities causing us to go any which way the wind blows. To this point I can agree.

So now I have fully confused you. Good! I would hate to have you think you know me to well.

All joking aside, what I am getting to does hold water, even if it is wavy. Doubt is a complicated matter and we must understand the role it plays in our lives in order to understand what doubt we should avoid.

I believe that many of you will find that you have struggled with doubt many times in your life. I know I certainly have. Let us begin with the idea that doubt is not the problem, but what we doubt can be.

First we must never doubt God. God is faithful. God is on time. God is our Father. God is many things, but He is not to be doubted. Most of all God is not man.

I find that most of my doubt does not revolve around God but around me. I doubt that I have the ability. I doubt that I am good enough. I doubt that it is possible. This doubt is not always wrong and at times can be used for good.

When I feel that doubt rising in me it becomes an alarm. It signals my need to turn to God that much more and search His Word for guidance. In doing so I do not doubt Him, but I doubt myself. By taking this doubt and embracing it I am actually becoming closer to God. You can do the same.

When James teaches that we are to ask in faith he is speaking to this exact matter. When we doubt ourselves, essentially recognizing our own shortcomings, we should look to God out of faith in His power. You see in this manner we do not doubt in God. We do not become waves blown by the wind, but instead we come stalwarts focused on the steadiness of our Lord.

Today I challenge you to acknowledge and embrace your doubt as a way to latch on to Christ that much more. Use your shortcomings for good. After all when we are weak He is strong.