Ask about doubt…What is doubt?…(Bible dictionary definition) To waiver in opinion or judgment, to be in uncertainty as to belief expecting everything. Simply, to question.
Ask about when we doubt…In what instances do we doubt?…Examples: 1) You don’t believe that you will finish in 1st place, 2) You doubt whether your parents truly care about your best interests, 3) Doubting whether there is God out there
Ask about why we doubt: Why do we doubt? (Regarding our faith and goals)…We expect to see the results immediately. We are impatient and hopeless.
Read Mark 9:14-29…Jesus is expressing his frustration to a crowd that claimed to follow Him. They doubted their abilities to drive demons out of a demon-possessed boy. Jesus quoted “Everything is possible for the one who believes.” Here, not everyone who believed in God believed that they could do such miracles. When we doubt our abilities, do what the boy’s father did. He said in vs. 24,”I do believe; help me overcome by unbelief.”
Ask about when we doubt: When you doubt, what should you do?…
- Seek God and don’t let your doubts push you away. This includes acknowledging your doubts and responding with prayer, scripture reading, and worship. Read Deuteronomy 4:29-31
- Seek others. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You won’t be considered a terrible Christ-follower if you ask questions. Read Proverbs 27:17
Ask about doubting: What do we need to realize about doubting?…If we don’t humble ourselves and put our full faith in God in everything we do, our selfish thirst will never be quenched and our questions will never be answered. For example, I may say “If I see God or an act of God, I will believe.” We have to realize this: There were many people that saw Jesus and the miracles that he had performed, yet they refused to believe that He was who He said He was. They wanted more. Read John 12:37-43
What are steps to help minimize doubt?
Ask about the actions (1st Step) to minimize doubt: What should we do to minimize doubt?…The first step is to put your full faith in Him. This includes both believing and trusting in Him. I know it sounds tough to do, but it is worth it. God wants either all or nothing of you, so I recommend giving all. Read Revelation 3:14-22. Honestly, commitment is scary for most people, but this one is necessary.
Ask about the result of commitment: What is the result of full commitment to God?…As a result of this commitment to God, we begin to understand that what we want isn’t always what we need. Additionally, with a full devotion to God, what we want and what we need may become the same. In other words, full-devotion may align our mindset and heart-set with God’s. As a result, we will doubt less.
Talk about the 2nd step to help minimize doubt…The second step to minimizing doubt is acknowledging how amazing and powerful the lifestyle is of a fully-devoted Christ follower. It is all about selflessness and love. That lifestyle will be so powerful and impactful in this time we live in now. Also, thank God that he gave us the guidelines to live this type of life (The Bible). Read Philippians 2:1-11, 1 Peter 3:8-12, Psalm 1:1-7
Talk about the 3rd step to help minimize doubt…The third step to minimizing doubt is to remember our rewards. The rewards, of course, shouldn’t be the main focus and reason for not doubting, but it is definitely necessary and worth mentioning. Because of our faith, we will be rewarded. We have the opportunity to party with God for eternity as a believer in Christ. How wonderful is that? Read Colossians 3:23-24. Since we know that we are saved, let nothing move you. Read 1 Corinthians 15:56-58
Get in the perspective of an atheist: Imagine being in an atheist’s shoes. What is the outcome of their existence? A slight opportunity to leave a legacy on Earth for all to remember. What’s the point of that? You will be dead and won’t even see how it affects everyone. Read 1 Timothy 5:5-6
Read a passage from the book Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre: This is a passage from a book entitled Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre. “It was true, I had already realized it – I hadn’t any ‘right’ to exist at all. I had appeared by chance, I existed like a stone, a plant, a microbe. I could feel nothing to myself but an in sequential buzzing. I was thinking…that there we are eating and drinking, to preserve our precious existence, and that there’s nothing, nothing, absolutely no reason for existing.”
Ask about the passage: What do you say about that?
Ask about the result of putting faith in God: What does faith in God give us?…A reason to live, a purpose
Talk about the result of conversion: If we convince/persuade a non-believer that there is a God, we gain a follower of Christ. How long does that last?…Forever!! If a non-believer convinces a believer that there is no God, they gain self-praise. How long does that last?…A week or month.
Read Matthew 5:12…Our rewards last for eternity
Summary of lesson:
- What should we do when we doubt?…Seek help from God and seek help from others
- What do we need to realize?…Even if we get what we think we want from God, we won’t be satisfied. Faith in God will satisfy us and quench our thirst.
- What should we do to help with our doubting problem?…(1) Fully commit ourselves to God so that what we want becomes what we need. (2) Acknowledge the power and influence that our selfless lifestyle is. (3) Our rewards will last for eternity.
Ask about your doubts: Do you have any doubts? Write them down and follow the steps above.
References:
Bible Study Tools. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/
NIV Life Application Study Bible. (2011). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament. (2004). Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament. (2004). Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society.
Unger, M. F. (1976) Unger’s bible dictionary. Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.