Aftermath: Coming Down The MountainSample

Facing Doubt

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan for each of us. That is an awesome thought! “God has a specific plan for my life? How cool!” But, the reality is that we can let doubt creep in and make us wonder if we can ever do or be what God is calling us to. “But what if I can’t do what He is asking me to do?” “What if I fail?” “What if I slip back into old habits?” What if, what if, what if?

Doubt plagued a man in the Bible named Gideon. Gideon viewed himself through the lens of every weakness he had, instead of as the mighty warrior that God said he was. He definitely didn’t see himself as a person that God could use. Gideon could only see his defeats and his setbacks. Gideon’s own perception of himself made him doubt what God was calling him to do. 

Although Gideon was full of doubt, he made a choice to step out and trust God. How did Gideon go from doubt to trust? He began to focus more on what God thought of him than how he saw himself. He started an honest conversation with God and told God where he was struggling to believe. Gideon allowed God to show him that God meant what He said. It wasn’t going to be done by any of Gideon’s own ability, but through God and only God. 

Doubt can creep into our lives when we focus on what we are bringing to the table and not what God is providing. Doubt begins to creep in when we look at our past and don’t keep our eyes on Jesus. Doubt begins to creep in when we measure ourselves by how others perceive us and not what God says about us. 

Challenge:

1. Are you struggling with doubt in an area with your walk with Christ? How can you change your focus?
2. Gideon changed the life of not only his family, but a nation. How can your doubt effect the lives of those around you?
3. PRAY: If you are struggling with doubt, take time today to talk about it to God.