“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.” ~ Buddha
If you’re like me, you’ve experienced a fair share of doubt in your life—doubt in yourself, doubt in God, and doubt in your calling. It won’t surprise you for me to say that doubt isn’t a new, 21-century thing. I believe the phrase you are searching for is, “Well, duh!” But the seeds of doubt can be traced back all through the Bible and presumably through known history. It is impossible to live life without some form of doubt, especially in a society that places God against so many obstacles; in order to believe in God, one must doubt the conclusions of very intelligent men and women.
We are conditioned to doubt the words of strangers; thinking whatever they tell us serves some sort of self-reward or agenda. We tell lies to make ourselves look better or to appear more suitable for whatever it is we are trying to do, even if it is only a little puffery. Everyone does it at some point right? So, was Jesus any different?
The disciples seemed to think not. We always hear of doubting Thomas, but every single one of the disciples was guilty of doubt. In fact, there are several times listed in the Gospels when Jesus has to call them out on it and say, “Do you have such little faith? Why do you doubt?” (Matt. 8:26; 14:31; Luke 12:27-28; et all). Peter could not walk on water, the disciples were fearful in the storm, and (here’s the big one) when Christ was crucified on the cross, the disciples just gave up. That is the biggest insult I could ever think of to a ministry. In that time, Jews expected a Messiah-King to ride in on a white horse and smite the Romans for their oppressions. They expected him to take the lead and rule over Jerusalem, Judea, and the entire world. Then here comes Jesus, a carpenter from a small town, riding a donkey. Yet somehow the disciples saw Him for who He was—the messiah. They followed Him, though doubting His power at times. They witnessed miracles and heard his teaching, but when he was crucified, they scattered, thinking their great leader was no more. The Messiah had come and died before he took His throne.
Now, we know how Christ’s story really happened. He didn’t just die and rot, but died for our sins and rose again. Here’s the interesting part of the story: the first act of forgiveness that Christ expressed after He rose from the dead was forgiving the disciples of their doubt. “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your mind?” (Luke 24:38) He rebukes them for his doubt, then as a sign of forgiveness he places the ministry he began into their own hands. We know this as the Great Commission. Christ as a leader was not one to take charge and rule from a throne; He was a facilitator and a mentor, allowing others to lead. By following that example his name and power spread over the entire earth.
Jesus forgives us of our doubts. He does not hold them against us. So long as we continue moving and worship Him through our service, we are forgiven. There will be times when you feel far away from God; you may doubt His existence or His calling, but take heart. Have faith. Desire to do God’s will and all shall be aligned in the end.
Jude 1:24 “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Posts
