Doubt and Despair

Doubt is another thing that can often plague us. Especially when we begin to doubt our faith in Christ. If we continue doubting that will eventually lead to despair. Again (as with worry) doubting is a sin and the only way we can overcome it is with the help of Christ. We must always be looking to him.

Often times I have doubted my faith. I’m not a Christian that doesn’t have these doubts. Because of this and many other sins I have likened myself to Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress and I always find myself in the Slough of Despond. If we feel like this, however, we shouldn’t let it discourage us. Now obviously that is not an easy thing to do. In fact we cannot do it on our own. Again we must be relying on Christ. That is the only way.

Here are some passages that deal with doubt: Matt. 14:31 – here we see that doubt is a matter a faith. Being sinners our faith is weak and so we doubt.

Matt. 21:21,Mark 11:23 – Again doubt and faith are shown together.

James 1:6 – Here James describes our doubt and we see some of the sinfullness of it.

Jude 1:17-23 – This is one of the most important. We must be merciful to those who doubt. If we see someone doubting and going through a time of trial we cannot proudly act as if we are somehow better than them. Rather we are to help them through their trial and build them up in Christ. This is how the Body of Christ (the Church) is suppose to be working.

Now when you are doubting take heart! The fact that we doubt, realize that it is wrong, and are sad and mourning over it is testimony to the fact that we are truly Christians and that God is at work in our life! While we are doubting this may be hard to see. That is why when we are not doubting or going through some trial we need to be preparing ourselves and filling ourselves up with the truth of the Gospel!

Here is a really encouraging passage that has to do with our sufferings: Romans 5:1-4 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Worry

Matthew 6:25-34 — “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Worrying is something that we all do. Most likely every one of us worries about something every day. Clearly from this passage though it is sin. Christ says, “Do not…”. That is a command. It is very easy for us though to fall into this sin. We worry about all the work we have to do the next day, how well things will turn out with a friend, how well we do on an exam,etc. There are just so many things.

Well Christ has commanded us not to worry. You’d think that would be enough to make us stop worrying. But as sinful humans we cannot. Christ realizes this and goes on to speak about why we should not worry. The last verse is the key. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Indeed each day does have enough trouble on its own. We need to just take it one day at a time. That doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future, but rather to not cause ourselves more stress by worrying about it. This isn’t just “another lousy command” (not that any of God’s laws are lousy, though sometimes we may feel that way) that we have to follow. It is a freeing command.

I have personally found this passage very encouraging and freeing. I always worry all the time. I know that I shouldn’t but as a sinner I do. But then one day I decidedly did not worry about anything. That doesn’t mean I became careless. I found that by doing so a huge burden was taken off my back and I could finally breathe! Now I’m not trying to brag or anything I’m just using myself as an example. It’s very hard, but it is possible. The only way it is possible is through Christ and Christ alone. Making a decision to not worry is just part of it. But even that is not by myself. Without Christ I wouldn’t even be making that decision. But “I can do all things through Christ who strngthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

So I encourage all of you to stop worrying! For the Father takes care of the birds of the air and we are so much more valuable thatn they. So how much more thatn will he take care of us and give us what we need, when we need it!

I just thought this would be a great reminder even though we have all heard it so many times.

Intro

Well here is my blog! At first I didn’t really want one, but after I thought about it for awhile I decided it would be good to have.

My main reason for having this blog is to be of encouragement to everyone. I’ll be posting some of my thoughts, sharing some encouraging scripture and well, posting about life in general sometimes.

Enjoy!