Christ Is Relevant to Doubt

To believe or not to believe that is truly the question. Doubt has become a standard problem within the Christian community. Often it is said, by those coming for spiritual guidance, "I am doubting my salvation," "I am doubting God's will for my life," and/or "I doubt if God can love me." Certainly doubt is a heavy burden upon those who bear under its load.

The Christian can have times of uncertainty that lead to anxiety because they do not understand how Christ is relevant to their particular situation. However, what is generally regarded as doubt is something different. Doubt, as is referred to here in its pathological form, is not typically remedied by truth, so it is a condition of the soul's unhealthy state. Doubt is created to avoid confronting the reality that we are abiding in unbelief. Doubt then is a defense mechanism that defends us from having to confess our state of unbelief and therefore protects us from our personal responsibility to believe. This defense then allows us to continue in the fleshly controls afforded by unbelief. Hence, doubt is blatantly condemned in Scripture.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8 NASB)

The NLT translates the word doubt as "divided loyalty."

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (James 1:6-8 NLT)

“Divided loyalty” of the heart speaks even more specifically to the issue of a toxic soul. We may say, "I can't believe" when in fact it is that I am choosing not to believe. When it comes down to it, doubt is based in not being willing to give our souls fully to God due to wanting to reserve some part of the flesh for self. Therefore, no matter what changes within our situation, we are prone to perceive the changes in accordance with unbelief and the desire to maintain control. When we cover unbelief with doubt, we will always color the circumstances with the hues of unbelief. The only truth that will release us from bondage is to confess to God our actual choice to not believe Him in regards to our plight.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Matt. 6:24 ESV)

We may have a vast knowledge of the Bible, but if this knowledge has never changed us it is because we do not believe what we know to be true. When we believe, we act on what we know is certain. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (Heb. 11:1 NLT). It does not require complete comprehension. Absolute understanding is not a necessity. What is essential is that we trust and follow in God’s way. “You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, ‘This is the correct way, walk in it,’ whether you are heading to the right or the left” (Isa. 30:21 NLT).

Our inability to trust reveals that we do not believe God at His word. It is imperative that we acknowledge and confess our unbelief. Authentically facing the reality that we do not believe God results in the trauma of truth that challenges our value system. When we acknowledge our inadequacy, genuine concern for ourselves motivates us to seek God for help.

“Unless your faith is firm,
      I cannot make you stand firm” (Isa. 7:9 NLT).

Insight Journal
Are you willing to convert what you refer to as “doubt” and repent of your sin of unbelief?
Are you willing to forsake your unbelief to embrace the truth by believing?

(Selected excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis.)