Everyone goes through a season of doubt. Anyone that says they don't is not really being tested in their faith which leads to a whole other discussion about whether they are really working for the kingdom, but that is for another time. I believe that every believer when they are truly attacked spiritually will have moments of doubt accompanied by fear and followed by guilt. Guilt is used by the enemy to make us think we are "bad believers" in the hope of getting us to abandon the faith we hold so close. It pushes us to go down a path that makes us believe we have no worth in the kingdom of God and at times leads us to completely leave all that we hold dear. Unfortunately, a believer will sometimes adopt the "sin is sin" approach and figure nothing really matters so why bother. It is in those times, we are most vulnerable in our beliefs and faith.
I have heard people say they have given up on God because he didn't answer the specific prayer they had for healing a loved one, fixing a problem or getting us what is wanted. The problem with that idea is that we have tied our faith to the response we want; rather accepting the response as a part of the faith journey. Faith is not something we just have today and goes tomorrow. It is a journey built by the testing of our character. Think of it this way. If you pick up a glass of water and hold it out, it doesn't weigh much. Seems like it takes no effort at all. But if we hold it out for 15 minutes, an hour or several hours, the hand and arm will begin to shake and eventually lose some grip thus ending in a spill. Our faith cannot stay stagnant and just hold still. We can't just hold it out front and believe it will not be tested. If we don't grow and change in our "faith strength", we end up spilling out when the pain of holding the same thing too long takes it toll. Holding on to that anger, frustation, hatred, jealousy or sin will eventually result in a weakening of our faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Jude 22 says, "And have mercy on those who doubt." Even God understands that doubt will happen and he expects us to help each other in those times.
The biblical story in Mark 2:5 says very clearly that Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic's friends ("when Jesus saw their faith") and as a result forgave the sins of the paralytic himself. Let's be honest and merciful to each other as we go through those difficult times. Let's encourage and grow together, let's remember that doubt comes and trials will come but that is the strengthening of our faith not the end of our faith. John 16:33 says, "In the world, you will have tribulation but take heart, "I have overcome the world." We are not bad believers when we doubt. See it for what it is, a time to grow with the help of others. Go back and listen to that song, "what would you do if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me,"... "I get by with a little help from my friends"
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