The Danger of Doubt

Being a Christian isn't easy. Neither is being a Hebrew. We live from day to day enjoying the pleasures of life and everything the world has to offer, yet it is so hard to admit we are doing it all for God. In a religious or spiritual setting, it is fairly easy to do so; to worship and praise, to think and speak properly, to help out without being asked. Yet, in the real world all those things Jesus worked so hard to establish seem to be defenestrated.

One of the biggest challenges facing any God-fearing individual is doubt. Faith and works is infinitely harder than doing whatever you want and not worrying about the consequences. It is so much easier to not believe in God and get on with your life. However, not only is this wrong, it is dangerous. Even just doubting God's existence every now and then could lead to some very brutal consequences.

Beginning with a doubt, one can begin to backslide faster than a greased pig on a slip-n-slide. All it takes is that one moment to think "God couldn't possibly exist, what with all the (insert reason here)", and you're off to do whatever it is that God doesn't want you to do. I'll admit, it's hard to believe. It's hard to do what Jesus did. But it's worth every effort. Doubt is a natural way of Spiritual Life, everyone does it and everyone feels it. It's what you do with that doubt that matters.

Do you harp on it? Do you let it eat at you until you feel you need to do something to prove God's existence, or does it stop with the thought? I hope it is the latter. If you already know God exists, there is no reason to begin to doubt. No matter the circumstance, no matter the cause. If irrational thoughts do pop in your head, just think about the opposite. Think about the reasons God does exist, think about what He has done for you. Think about your friends and family who are doing the same thing you are. A few hundred million people can't be wrong about something that feels so right.

So next time you begin to doubt, just work that thought from your mind in a healthy way. The enemy is always out to draw people back to his world, we cannot let him win. When you do get a sense of doubt, ask yourself what would Jesus do? Then read your Bible; a good story would be Jesus' 40 days in the desert. Or some Psalms.

And, don't be the lizard.