Happy Sunday everyone! I am sure as you can already tell by the title, we will be touching on the issue of Doubt. As we journey through life, we quickly realise it is a one-way street in which we can never be certain of what lies ahead but always hoping for the best. After all, a missed opportunity may never come again, and a horrible mistake could sabotage the rest of the journey. Because we do not have specific signs on our journey telling us which way to go or what to expect around the corner so that we can prepare, it is easy for fear, self-doubt, and a lack of faith in God to creep in. Although we cannot see around every corner, we can trust in Him who can.
Be inspired by Moyo’s post below concerning the issue of doubt…
This post is about James 1:6-8 which I read a few weeks ago and have been meditating on for a while now.
Common sense would suggest that if you want something you’d have to work towards achieving it and in the process of working towards it, you’d also have to believe that you can achieve it. For example, if I want to pass my driving test-I need to take a couple of driving lessons, prepare for and pass the theory test and be confident that after much preparation I will pass. However, most times it’s easier said than done, and I didn’t realise until I read this Scripture that the bible explicitly touched on the issue of doubt.
Doubt can described as ‘A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction’.
‘But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.’ (James 1:6-8 NIV).
After reading this, I was like ‘wow!’ okay no wonder some of my prayers haven’t been answered.’ Like seriously ‘should not think he will receive anything from the Lord?’ now that’s scary!
I’ve had times especially when I was applying for jobs (due to the previous unfortunately emails i.e. rejections), where I would apply for a job and actually expect to be rejected (I’d say to myself ‘Moyo are you sure you’re going to get this job? You haven’t got 3 of the essential qualities required and even when you get past the application stage, knowing your inexplicable love for maths-are you seriously going to pass the numerical test?- I’d like to think I was preparing myself for the worst). So once I received an update on my application, I’d just sharply scan through to see if I could find any ‘unfortunately’ or the like within the content of the email and when I did I’d just revert to what I was doing earlier, thinking to myself ‘the search continues’.
These verses made me realise that not only did I not trust my own abilities but I also doubted God big time. Like seriously what was the point of praying over an application if I already believed I wasn’t going to get the job in the first place? Wasteoftime if you ask me. But I’m very thankful that God drew my attention to these 3 verses. These verses have helped me:
- Pray with the right mind set i.e. without doubt (with faith) and in the hope that yes! I will receive a positive answer from God if it is in line with His will.
- Stop wasting time -so if I think I wont get that job or achieve that goal then I better not waste my time applying for it/working towards it. I may as well use that time to build up my faith.
- Stop being ‘double-minded’ (still working on this one).
I hope this post encourages you especially if you’re thinking of taking a big step and thinking to yourself ‘Can I really do this?’ Is God going to see me through?’ When you’re filled with these ‘feelings of uncertainty or lack of conviction’ (i.e. doubt) remember what James 1:6-8 says, and ask for the grace to trust Him without reservations.
beinspired,
Moyo
xx
Integr8.Africa 