Doubting God

It's a challenge that we all face. It is a tactic of the satan to make us stumble, to not stand firm and trust in the God who died for us.

When do you doubt God? I'll hold my hands right up now and say that the temptation for me to give up has been very close in the past few days.

Surprised? I am. The wedding is back on, lots of people can make it, and God is in control of our trials.

Yet our sinful natures don't like that phrase 'God is in control.' Of course, as the Bible tells us, He is, and that is awesome and amazing (Romans 8). But when we doubt, we doubt that truth.

I mean, that is what I was doing yesterday when life overwhelmed me and, through a very tearful phone call with Jo, admitted to myself that everything in my life was destined to go wrong, that was my default. Yes, a lot has gone wrong, very frequently, so my logic was to label everything as going wrong, full stop, forever.

In fact, I was very much like a man of the Old Testament named Asaph.

Now Asaph, according to 1 Chronicles 6:39, was of the tribe of Levi, and a psalmist.

He wrote Psalm 77. Why not read it to yourself now as we look at it. If you don't have a Bible handy, use this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2077&version=ESV

The first half of this passage has the writer in doubt of God. He seeks God yes, in verse 1-2, but "his soul refuses to be comforted" and he moans at remembering God.

How often have we felt like this? As Christians, we know it is right to seek God and trust in Him, but how much of that is empty words? When we are so troubled that we cannot speak, what are our thoughts of God?

Well Asaph doubts. In verses 7-9 he questions many of God's characteristics: His gracious election, His unfailing love, His faithfulness to His promises, His mercy and His compassion. These are characteristics that the whole Bible continues to proclaim about God, see how God describes Himself in Exodus 34:6-7, see Him make His promises to Abraham of land, people and blessing in Genesis 12 and 15, see Him promise to cleanse His people from their sin so that these promises can be accessed in Ezekiel 36 and 37, and see Him ultimately fullfill them in Christ Jesus.

This is what we must ask ourselves, has God forgotten us? Are our trials and tears to overwhelm us? Has God shut up His compassion?

What does Asaph do in verse 11? He focuses His mind, to remember the deeds of the Lord, to remember that God has worked and will work.

God is in control. We see that in verse 16 as the waters tremble before God, and in verses 19-20 as God parts waters in leading His people, His flock, through the turbulence. Anyone else reminded of the Exodus, as God parts the waters to let His chosen people through? Well, have a look at how those people were feeling prior to that great rescue:

"¹⁰When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. ¹¹They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? ¹²Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." ¹³And Moses said to the people,^D)"> "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.""

If God can do that, indeed, if God can do a greater salvation, the death and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, then surely He will not abandon us. See how Paul puts it in Romans 5:10 "¹⁰For if^A)"> while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."

So what to do when we doubt. Whatever we do, we must fight, fight the satan. And what is our weapon, God's Word. God's living and active word, the gospel, His salvation plan that involves us, us who He allows to trust in Him.

For He is a trustworthy God, who has proved that so many times. And we need to force ourselves to remember that, even when it seems the entire world is falling apart around you: plans not going ahead, people moving away, you moving away, watching people battle around you, even when you are having a completely crap time, God never changes. He is indeed in control, open up the Bible to see that. For we have that gospel that He gives, indeed, as Jesus says in that often quoted but not always thought about verse: "For^A)"> God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Keep reminding youself, and others, of the gospel. Force yourself, and remember God is at work.

There's a great kid's song that I think sums this up well, it's called Powerful Love:-

Let’s give thanks to our God
our God is so good
he’s the God of gods
and Lord of lords
he made the heavens above
he made the land and the water
he made them just by
speaking his powerful words

His powerful love goes on
his powerful love goes on
his powerful love goes on and on forever

God struck down the Egyptians
but saved his special people
with his mighty hand
and his mighty outstretched arm
he split the sea in two
and destroyed the Egyptian army
but his special people
walked through without harm
because...

His powerful love goes on
his powerful love goes on
his powerful love goes on and on forever

Jesus Christ is God
our mighty, powerful God
he struck down all our enemies:
death and sin
and he defeated Satan
he crushed him on the head (ouch!)
he did it when he died
and rose again
because...

His powerful love goes on
his powerful love goes on
his powerful love goes on and on forever



Are you feeling doubtful of God's work in your life and situations therein? Don't feel guilty, look to the cross, force yourself to, remember the grace shown most in the gospel. For God's love, powerful love, does indeed go on and on forever.

Know anyone feeling doubtful? Why not pray for them to remember the awesome truth, and why not give them a call too?