Doubt

 James 1:5-8
 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.
 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
 (Doesn't doubt feel like that??? You get seasick!)
 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. "
To me Doubt is a rebellious boy child that sometimes gets out of hand--it's opposite and
perfect little sister, is faith.
There are points in our life when our faith is strong, and we believe without a doubt.
Everything is going peachy. No need to doubt or worry--all is well!
But then we also have times where doubt creeps in, and we cry out to the Lord to
“help our unbelief"--like the New Testament father who's child was possessed by the evil spirit.
 Don't we find the doubt creeps in when we feel overwhelmed, and have begun to
assume WE will be the solution to all our own problems? When is God going to fix this?
When will this be over?

We get too busy worrying ( the cousin to Doubt) that we forget where we put our faith.
 The good news is that God answers prayers, and He is waiting to reward our faith. In
fact, He commands us to "not doubt, but believe," because He knows how much more
abundant our lives will be when we are full of faith.
God created us with free will. With the purpose being that we choose to serve him
not because He commanded us to, but because we wanted to.
As a Christian you choose each & every new day, to believe in God and that Jesus is
His Son.
And you choose every day, how much of your life you will GIVE to them, as they ask.
That is choosing to doubt whether or not God can handle your "stuff" or if you think
you've got it all under control.

A friend once taught me a very important lesson. She said sometimes we have to allow
others to help us, not for ourselves, but so they can serve God.  My pride & I have tried
to remember that. Sometimes it's not about us.
The apostle Paul’s prayer and desire for Christians everywhere was that their lives
would be full of prayer and worship, so that there is no room for wrath or doubting.
Both of those are opposite to God’s will for his children. His heart for us is that we
would be faith-filled worshippers that are passionate for our God and King, because
He knows that we will then have the capacity to live abundant, joyous, and purposeful
lives.

I want to share something that has given & continues to give me great comfort. It may
be nothing new in thought to you, but I have taken great strength from it myself.
Sometimes it doesn't feel right to admit we doubt. Seems a wrong or difficult thing for
Christians to admit to. I mean, we're perfect coming up out of the water after baptism
right? We'll never doubt again!
Jesus was human. We know we are to use him as example of human emotions he too
has felt just like us! Jesus was sorrowful to the point of death in the Garden after the
Last Supper. Think about that.
This perfect human explains to his closest friends, as much as he can of what he's
going to be going through, and he prays for them and with them. He is exhausted and
goes for a moment alone with His father. He is feeling overwhelming sadness and
anguish. And in his talk with his Father, he doubts God's plan for Him.
He does! He says if there's any way, let this cup pass from me.
He did not want to go through with God's plan. Is there any other way? Are you sure
Father?  We don't have a plan B on the books?? Please?

But He knew there wasn't. Yet he asked anyway. It's okay to ask God if there's another
way. It is okay. As long as we go to our Father & fellow brothers and  sisters in Christ
and restructure our faith.
God our Father gave us free will---and wants us daily to choose with that free will, to
take up our own cross daily---and follow Him. To cast our doubts aside.
Sometimes we need a day or two to cope with our doubt. That's perfectly fine. Just
don't unpack and live there.
We as Christians need to feel comfortable enough to express our doubts to one
another. Allow and let other Christians  help us build our faith back up.  And hopefully
make us turn to God.  We can help ourselves by staying in the Word so we can hear
the Holy Spirit when it's guiding us. And reach out to keep reaffirming. There's nothing
wrong with doubt that faith in God can't fix.

1 Peter 5:7-9
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you
know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of
sufferings."