God is Greater Than Our Doubts

If we're honest, each of us can probably point to some time in our life when we entertained doubts about God and His Son Jesus. Yes, there are verses in the Bible that point to the negative aspects of doubt (James 1:6 comes to mind), but there are also many, many examples of God proving His power over even human doubt. Let's look at a few of the great doubters of the Bible and how God reached through the darkness of doubt to shed His light on the situation.



Sarah

I have to admit that my reaction would be the same as Sarah's. Here is a woman who had passed the age of normal child-bearing. God shows up at the door and tells Abraham that his wife will have a child.



The thought sends her into a fit of the giggles (which she later denies) brought on by doubt that God could do what He promised. (Genesis 18)



God still acted in spite of Sarah's doubt and brought about the promise of a child--a child named for the laughter he caused (Genesis 21:6-7).



Jacob

If any character in the Bible reveals the worst of human behavior, Jacob would certainly be on the list. Even his name reveals the worst: deceiver. That's certainly what he was, though one could argue that his mother and father certainly played a part in this character deficiency.



After cheating his older brother from both the blessing and birthright that were rightfully his, Jacob flees for his life. On his way to his uncle's house, Jacob spent the night at Bethel where God revealed Himself to this cheater and promised to be with him and bring him back to this land. Jacob responded with a vow to make the LORD his God.



When Jacob returned to his country--several years, wives, and children later--the Bible tells us that he feared meeting up with Esau again and struggled/wrestled with God (Genesis 32). Could it be possible that part of his struggle was doubting whether the Lord's promise to Him was true? After struggling all night, God once more reveals Himself to Jacob and give him a new name, Israel.



 God wasn't minimized by Jacob's doubt; He was made real in Jacob's life through the doubt.



Job

Another man who struggled with doubts and questions about God was Job.



We all know the story of how the accuser sought permission from God to buffet Job for the purpose of proving that Job's only reason for living a blameless life was because God had blessed him. As is usually the case, Satan wanted to draw Job away from God, to cause doubts to the point that Job denounced God.



And God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed Satan leeway.



In similar situations of struggle and pain, we too may question God. Those same doubts may arise in our hearts and minds.



Once more, in the midst of Job's rantings and ravings and doubts and questions, God proved Himself more powerful, and the end result was a Job who was stronger and better and wiser for having endured, a man who experienced God, a man who was then able to say: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” ~Job 42:2-6 (NIV)



Jeremiah

Here is the weeping prophet, a man given the horrific task of declaring God's judgment on his neighbors. To make matters worse, this task left him very unpopular with his fellow man, and in response he was shunned, derided, and even persecuted because of his God-given message.



I don't know about you, but this would've given me cause to doubt. I would question whether this message was truly from God or a figment of my imagination. As a recovering people-pleaser, the verbal taunts from my fellow man would not only make me doubt God, but myself.



No wonder Jeremiah responds in both doubt and accusation by saying: "Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails." ~Jeremiah 15:18 (NIV)



Jeremiah's accusatory words didn't stop God from carrying out His plan. In fact, God not only carried out His plan, but brought about a change in Jeremiah that later enabled him to say: "But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten." ~Jeremiah 20:11 (NIV)



The Man With a Sick Child

Is there anything like having a sick and hurting child to bring us to Jesus?



The name of the man in Mark 9 is not given, but we understand his panic and grief. He'd tried everything, including bringing his son to the disciples, who had not been able to heal him. Notice the doubt behind the man's words to Jesus, how Jesus wasn't taken aback by the doubt, and His power to operate in spite of the man's wavering.



Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ~Mark 9:22-24 (NIV)



How often I have responded to the Lord with this very same prayer: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (And He does!)



Thomas

No study on doubt would be complete without the doubting disciple.



Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” ~John 20:24-28 (NIV)



Notice that Jesus didn't hold the doubt against Thomas. Instead He presented evidence of who He truly was, commanded belief rather than doubt, and brought about a declaration of faith from this follower who's faith had been shaken.



APPLICATION :

Praise God that He is powerful enough to act in spite of our doubts. But there comes a point where like Sarah, Jacob, Job, Jeremiah, the grieving father, and the doubting disciple that we must respond in faith. Most often this is done through the gift of faith from God and a decision to persevere in spite of our fears and doubts. Consider these examples:


The Canaanite Woman ~ A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. ~Matthew 15:22-28 (NIV) 
Ruth ~ Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” ~Ruth 1:15-17 (NIV)

In closing, let us also remember not to browbeat those we come across in this life who are riddled with doubt. Instead, let us follow the example of Christ and "Be merciful to those who doubt..." ~Jude 1:22 (NIV)



Lord God, thank You for being bigger and greater and more powerful than our doubts. Thank You that You are able to act in spite of our doubts and that you don't condemn us for our doubts. Instead, You reveal Yourself to us on a deeper level and give us the gracious gift of faith in You and who You are. May we be quick to respond with the same compassion and mercy when we encounter those with doubts. May our response lead them to know You better. In Jesus' powerful name, Amen.