A Doubtful Faith

Are doubts and faith really incompatible?

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing...Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.

The above words come from Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest. They are words which force me to sit back and understand that doubt does not equal defeat. I often want to present others with a facade of confidence, usually self-confidence. To say that I am scared of something or even nervous or unsure (aka, doubtful) is, I thought, a concession to defeat. That's not the case at all.

In Matthew 28:11-20 His disciples saw Him and bowed in worship. But there were some who were also doubtful. We often feel guilty when we doubt. We have been told that doubt is itself a sin. It makes us like tossed about waves. It reveals the weakness of our faith. How we don't fully trust or rely on God. In reality doubt is essential to our faith. It is doubt that builds our faith.

When we doubt we look for answers. Doubt allows us to realize we don't have all the answers. Doubt forces us to acknowledge that God does have the answers.

Jesus did nothing about their unbelief. In fact, He didn't even address it. Rather He sent them to work. He charged them with labour. Even in the midst of their doubt they had to minister (think Great Commission).

Christ Himself in His humanity sensed doubt. On His knees in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed unsure of what to do, yet fully yielding to the Father's plan. There are also occasions of unsurety, dare I say ignorance, on His part. He admitted to them when He said that there were things the Father knew of which He knew nothing.

So don't let doubt defeat you. Don't let it keep you from doing what you've been called to do. From doing what you know you have to do. We doubt because we are who we are (human). Whereas He is who He is and He is God! It is in His authority that we do what we've been called to do. Finally, as in reassurance, He does gaurantee us His presence (in the Holy Spirit), but He still waits until the very end to do that.