The Sea of Doubt

As humans we all experience moments of doubt. It's how we are set up. When bad things happen, we begin to doubt that it will ever turn around for the better. As believers, we are taught that we should give no place to doubt because we should never, EVER doubt God. We know that He is faithful in fulfilling His promises and we know that nothing is impossible for Him. However, no matter how hard we try, from time to time doubt creeps in. It consumes us. It makes us question every thing that has happened up until that exact moment that things are not going too well.  I've done the tango with doubt may of times in my life and it's definitely not a good feeling. I'm sure it doesn't make God feel good either because it means we doubt Him and his power.   While we may have all experienced this at some time or another, trust me you are not alone. There were even people, great leaders in the Bible who doubted God. 

            One specific story I want to touch on is in the book of Joshua. After the Israelites shout down the walls of Jericho, The Lord gives them specific instructions. He tells them that all the gold and fancy stuff (Chapter 6 v 18-19) were to be brought back as a sacrifice to Him. The Israelites were not to take it for themselves. However, you know there always has to be that one person who seems to miss the memo or in this case blatantly disobey the instructions. The Lord helped them to cross over the Jordan River just like He did when they were coming out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. Once they got to the other side, He helped them to defeat their enemies. But once it was discovered that the Lord's command was disobeyed, He departed from them. He allowed their enemies to defeat them. Now Joshua began to feel so discouraged. He was probably thinking, man God was just hanging with us. He was just helping us to fight our enemies off. He was with us crossing the river. So where is He now that our enemies have defeated us?

            In that one moment, all Joshua felt was doubt. It didn't matter that God had helped them defeat thousands of armies and conquer lands they never imagined they would someday possess. Chapter 7:7 says that Joshua cried out. He even thought it was better that they stayed on the other side of the Jordan River.  The Bible says that sin separates us from God, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” Isaiah 59:2.  When we sin, we can feel as if God is no longer with us. We can feel as if He is so far from us. It can also cause us to doubt. In that one moment that we feel He is no longer there, we can doubt every single thing He has done for us in the past. We forget how faithful He has been to us even though we haven't always been faithful. We forget how He has guided our every footstep. It is important for us to remember that even though we sin, God hasn't given up on us. He loves the sinner but not the sin. His word says that if we ask for forgiveness that He is just to forgive us  (1 John 1:9).

Even though we mess up and we might feel like He is no longer there, never doubt who God was before you made that mistake. And never doubt who He is because He is still there. He will always love us no matter what we do.

 So if you find yourself in one of these moments, don't allow yourself to be swallowed by the sea of doubt. Trust in The Lord. He will always be faithful to us. Just remember to walk in obedience and when you do that, there will be no room for doubt because God will continually show up and show us how powerful He is in our lives.