My friend Scott sent me an important message this morning about doubt, faith, and trust in God. Because it spoke strongly to me, I felt compelled to share it with you after receiving Scott’s permission.

From: Scott Shofner
Date: Sat, May 3, 2014 at 8:33 AM
Subject: Doubt Paralyzes
To: Joseph Peck, M.D.

Brother Joseph,

This is a great Wisdom Hunter for where we are today as men of God working out our salvation and bringing Glory to Christ through winning our battles within.

This is a season in Christ were we must “trust in Him” completely, even when things going on around us do not make sense.

In order to prosper in Christ and move forward in our God designed destiny, we must learn to trust in Him completely (even when life does not make sense) and obey.

Doubt is necessary to empower our faith and trust in Him. Faith is a house with many rooms and each level is attained by going through the door of doubt, overcoming doubt (fear) and thereby giving birth to our greater faith and trust with substance and power.

Doubt is a process we as humans must pass through in order for our faith and trust to really live in us.

If our trust and faith were not “fought for” and won, then the element of glory given to God is lost. If we do not have to fight against our doubts and fears and subsequently defeat our own fear and doubt for Christ, how is God glorified?

In the house of faith and trust in Christ, we must struggle within our flesh with doubts first in order for faith and trust to truly live in us.

Let me give you an example of the subtle difference of truly owning our faith and trust in Christ, as opposed to loosely hanging on to a superficial trust and faith in Christ; if the decisions in life we make based on faith and trust in Christ have a minimum potential loss or pain then the resulting faith and trust will be weak.

However, when Christ calls us to put it “all on the line for Him”, that is when we face our greatest doubts and fears in ways we never imagined. It is in this place that we cross over the “river Jordan” to the promised land by overcoming our fears and doubts and moving forward, facing giant’s of impossible adversity in the land and proclaiming by faith and trust in Christ that we will go forward and not stop even if it potentially means our end or great loss.

In other words, if what your trusting in Him could cost you everything, maybe even your life or great loss then the resulting power and strength of your trust in Christ when He delivers you from that adverse time or set of circumstances in your life will result in a strong and powerful trust and faith in Christ that says “I trust in Christ no matter what”.

This kind of faith, only comes from the internal fight with doubt and fear. When you say to your self, “I will trust Christ no matter what, if I live and prosper then it is to Christ that I live and prosper, if I die or suffer great loss, then it is to Christ that I surrender all I have, and I trust in Him”. I will say, “He has never left nor forsaken me in the past, and I know He never will”.

This is the place where we have the rare opportunity to produce a sweet song of happiness in God’s heart, and please Him like nothing else we can do. It is in this place where we truly make God happy, by trusting Him completely, when everything around is seems impossible and nothing makes sense, except the one glimmer of hope, that we know we belong to Christ and that He is directing our pathways.

Doubt is defeated by our total belief that no matter what comes, Christ’s love for us will deliver us into our destiny. Victory and blessing come as first fruits of defeating doubt and fear and moving forward into blessings.

Scott Shofner
Executive Director
Secure Leverage Group Inc.

On Sat, May 3, 2014, at 03:25 AM, Wisdom Hunters Devotional wrote:
Subject: Doubt Paralyzes
Date: 05/03/2014

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you?'” (Exodus 4:1).

Moses experienced the “what if” trap. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me?” Several thousand years later we struggle with the same doubts. What if they reject me? What if they say no? What if they say yes? What if I fail? What if I am hurt? What if they do not understand? If God has led us thus far and if His track record is one of faithfulness, are we not really saying, “What if God does not do what He said He will do?” Doubt detaches us from trust in the character of Christ.

If we are not careful, our beliefs and behavior can reflect this kind of irrational thinking about God. We really struggle at times (right before we take that step of faith) and wonder if God is really true to His Word and if He will come through for us. Yet we know that God has never failed us. His timing may have been different than we expected, but He has not failed us, and He will not fail us. Knowing this, we still struggle with doubt. Why is this?

“Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe'” (John 20:27).

Doubt is a normal part of the trust process. We go through doubt on the way to trust in the Lord. Even the most faithful followers of Jesus deal with doubt (see Matthew 11:2-3). However, the danger of doubt is to remain in doubt. Extended striving over doubt can paralyze you. It can paralyze your relationships, your finances, your career advancement, and, worst of all, your obedience to God. He is either trustworthy or He is not.

Lastly, the greatest difficulty is when we are in the middle of tremendous adversity or uncertainty. God’s posture is one of continual compassion and sincere love. He is there to walk with you. He is leading you, and He will provide the needed skills, finances, health, and relationships for you to accomplish His will. Let Him use this time of trial to once again, show that He is God.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory”(Ephesians 3:20-21).

Prayer: Lord, how do You want to empower me to face my doubts and fears by faith in You?

Related Readings: Jeremiah 1:6; Mark 11:23; James 1:6; Jude 1:22

Post/Tweet today: Doubt is a normal part of the trust process. We go through doubt on the way to trust in the Lord. #wisdomhunters

Taken from the May 3rd reading in Boyd’s 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God vol. 2“.

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© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

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