As humans we all have faced some form of doubt in our lives at one point or another. Some of us doubt more in life while others less. How is this? How is it that we as Christians can at times doubt God and His promises to us? Let’s start first by looking into what doubt really means. Doubt is uncertainty, an insecurity and a fear that something will not go as we want it to go about a situation. It can also be described as wavering, vacillating, hesitating and suspecting. Have you not noticed that all these synonyms of doubt can actually paralyze you and stop you from handling in that particular situation in your life? Doubt paralyzes and it hinders you from taking the needed action. Whenever you doubt as to what to do, for example by vacillating, you need to understand that you are in fact not taking action and thus standing still. The same goes for hesitation and suspicion. Please be aware that standing still is not moving forward. Can this be a weapon of the enemy that he successfully uses against us? Oh yes, I do think so.:
"And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life”(Deut.28:66)
From above mentioned Scripture we see that doubt actually is triggered by fear and fear is triggered by doubt. They both use each other to obtain the same result: doubt. When we are certain of the outcome of a situation, we have no doubt and thus no fear.Instead we have this boldness, this standing firm, and nobody can move nor shake us. Fear is a mighty weapon of Satan. He uses that weapon against us quite often. He knows that fear and doubt make you vulnerable. They disarm you in a manner of speech and leave you powerless. So when you are in doubt or whenever you doubt the Scriptures for example, you might be under attack from Satan and his demons. I say you might for some people doubt out of insecurity. A good example of doubt is the apostle Thomas. He doubted Jesus’ resurrection until He had proof. People who doubt often fail to take the proper action at the appropriate time. So whenever you are faced with a situation that requires you to take definite action, and you find yourself doubting, counter-attack Satan. In a loud voice bind and command those demons of doubt to leave you and start taking the required action.
Another form of doubt that is on the increase today is closely related to the so called ‘Compulsive Behavior Syndrome”. This behavioral syndrome causes people to repeat a certain action over and over again. Once they performed the action, fear takes over and doubt as to whether they have performed this action or not (in many cases, though not in all) and repeat the action again. I have counselled many people who suffer from this syndrome, people who for example, have this behavior with regard to gas or electricity. Whenever they leave the home they check, double check and they are still not satisfied the gas or the electricity is turned off. Doubt as to whether these are turned off, fear that if they have not looked well the house might burn down, make them repeat the action so many times until they are satisfied. In my view this is demonic, and I have witnessed many people who have been successfully delivered out of these demons. The demon is the demon of compulsion that works alongside with the demons of doubt and fear.
Satan’s kingdom, you see, is not unorganized. In fact, it is very organized. You can compare it to our army. There are ranges and offices within the army; and the same goes for Satan’s kingdom. Demons seldom operate alone, they usually come in groups which re-enforce each other. In this way they keep the victim in bondage! Only through looking at the reason of entry, the source, you can successfully deliver a person from these demons. These, experience has shown me, are quite strong demons, who will not let go easily. But do not despair, they have to leave you eventually, for they have no right to be in you nor harass you!
Doubt is in fact contrary to faith. There are many situations in which we may be confronted with doubt such as taking a life changing decision, decisions regarding people, financial decisions etc. All of us will face these kinds of situations at some point in our lives or another. We must face up to these situations and try to make the best out of them and take action. To doubt as to what to do will only withhold your decision a while longer, for sooner or later you will have to make that decision. Doubt, however, may also have a positive side. We all have met people of whom we did not have a good feeling. These people on the other hand where trying to establish some sort of contact with you and you where in doubt as to meet with them or not. Have you not been in a situation like that? I have and many times in my life. In these situations I regard doubt as a definite ‘no’ to meet those people. Call it intuition; call it doubt, to me whenever I am faced with such a situation I choose not to meet these people. Afterwards I am glad I did not, for in many cases those people turned out not to be the people they portrayed themselves to be.
In a biblical way, doubt is the lack of faith and trust in God. Many of us struggle in our Christian walk with doubt in some form or another. Especially when faced with a harsh situation on which we are completely dependant on God, it is sometimes hard to stand in faith and trust God and His promises. Jesus knew this only too well for He addressed this issue many times:
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”(Mk 11:23).
Jesus knew that doubt hinders our faith. He Himself told us that if we would have faith we would and could move mountains! Now what did He mean by removing a mountain? I think what He meant by mountains where obstacles, difficulties that only could be overcome in faith. Whenever we ask something of Him, we need to believe and trust Him that He will do it. If we doubt we will not receive it.
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”(Mk 11:24)
God knows that doubt hinders Him moving on our behalf. It hinders our faith. You need to know that God eagerly awaits to bless you, to move and do things for you, but that you hinder Him when you doubt. Doubt is not faith and God can only be triggered by faith.
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised”(Heb 10:23).
God has promised us that He will give us the right decision, which He will provide for us. We actually have no need to doubt. If you doubt turn in prayer to God and ask Him what to do. He is faithful and He will answer you. All you need to do is have faith. I know this sounds easier than it actually is, but I have tried it many times in my own life. I come from a background where I was and still am heavily rejected by both my parents and other people. In fact rejection is the thread that runs through my life. I never received much love and all I got was harsh words while growing up. This turned me into a person who doubted many people’s well meant intentions towards me. In fact, I also doubted God for I doubted that He could love me.
This meant that I doubted all His promises as well. Then I was touched by God in such a miraculous way that I decided to take the proof and wherever I doubted Him I started to trust and have faith in Him. It has been a long process but believe me, I know for a fact that God makes good on His promises. Always! The blessing that awaits you is yours when you have trust and faith in God. They can never be obtained if you doubt God. If you doubt God you are actually saying to Him that you do not believe in Him nor in His promises. How can God then bless you with His blessings? Right after I made my decision to trust and have faith in God and His promises my life changed completely for good. Today, whenever I face a harsh situation I believe God to deliver me out of this situation. Let me be completely honest with you, sometimes I do have my doubt spells as I call them, but then I turn to read the Bible and God’s promises and I regain my faith. Whenever you doubt, pick up your Bible and look for God’s promises regarding your situation. Believe and stand on His promises. He is faithful and He will comply! ( 1 Cor 1:9)
Let us therefore take heed of this sound advice:
“O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserve the faithful, and plentifully rewarded the proud doer” (Ps 31:23)