From The Pastors Desk: How should I handle my own doubts about God’s presence in my life? There are different kinds of “doubts” in the heart and mind of a Christian and different causes for “doubts” as well. To simplify, our doubts will tend to be regarding God (His existence and reality, the truth of His Word, etc.) or regarding ourselves (“I’m not sure I have truly ever trusted Christ”). Both categories of doubt are a normal part of growing into maturity as a believer. In that regard, doubt (in some form) is a necessary part of the sanctification process. Doubt can also be the result of things we are doing or not doing. Persisting in patterns of sin will often cause us to doubt. Failing to avail ourselves of the various means of grace (reading the Bible, sitting under the preaching of the Word, participating in the sacraments, prayer) will also make us vulnerable to sin and doubt. As to the question, “How should I handle my doubt?” there are four things to recognize and/or do. The first is to begin to see doubt as something that God can and does use in our lives to bring us to a place of greater dependence upon Him. That is always a good place to be! The second thing is to learn to rely less on emotions and experiences, which may be like riding a roller coaster at times and more on what Scripture says. (This presupposes that we know at least a bit about what the Scripture says.) Relying on the Word of God rather than feelings and circumstances is the essence of biblical faith. Third, develop a consistent and persistent prayer life. You know the people in your life because you talk to them and spend time with them. You can’t expect to grow in intimacy with God apart from spending time in communication with Him. Fourth and finally, God manifests His presence in a special way through the Visible Church. Our Lord made this clear by his statement recorded in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (NAS). Our tendency is to avoid participating in worship and church activities when we go through a spiritual dry spell. Those are the times we are in the greatest need of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ has promised to be present where “two or three have gathered.” How should I handle my own doubts about God’s presence in my life? There are different kinds of “doubts” in the heart and mind of a Christian and different causes for “doubts” as well. To simplify, our doubts will tend to be regarding God (His existence and reality, the truth of His Word, etc.) or regarding ourselves (“I’m not sure I have truly ever trusted Christ”). Both categories of doubt are a normal part of growing into maturity as a believer. In that regard, doubt (in some form) is a necessary part of the sanctification process. Doubt can also be the result of things we are doing or not doing. Persisting in patterns of sin will often cause us to doubt. Failing to avail ourselves of the various means of grace (reading the Bible, sitting under the preaching of the Word, participating in the sacraments, prayer) will also make us vulnerable to sin and doubt. As to the question, “How should I handle my doubt?” there are four things to recognize and/or do. The first is to begin to see doubt as something that God can and does use in our lives to bring us to a place of greater dependence upon Him. That is always a good place to be! The second thing is to learn to rely less on emotions and experiences, which may be like riding a roller coaster at times and more on what Scripture says. (This presupposes that we know at least a bit about what the Scripture says.) Relying on the Word of God rather than feelings and circumstances is the essence of biblical faith. Third, develop a consistent and persistent prayer life. You know the people in your life because you talk to them and spend time with them. You can’t expect to grow in intimacy with God apart from spending time in communication with Him. Fourth and finally, God manifests His presence in a special way through the Visible Church. Our Lord made this clear by his statement recorded in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (NAS). Our tendency is to avoid participating in worship and church activities when we go through a spiritual dry spell. Those are the times we are in the greatest need of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ has promised to be present where “two or three have gathered.”
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 02:36:43 +0000
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