Got Doubt? Why You Should Step Out in Faith
God loves boldness and He wants us to be confident of His love for us. He wants us to know without a doubt that we are made right with Him through the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross — especially on those days when we feel unworthy of His love.
To live boldly means that we're willing to step out in faith to try new things and pursue our God-given dreams and passions without letting the fear of doubt overshadow our faith.
Doubt is a fear that can bring a lot of confusion: Did I make the right decision? I don't know. Maybe I did. Well, maybe I didn't. We can go back and forth like that in our heads forever but I've found that when I'm confused, it's better to stop, turn off my brain and just look at what's in my heart—not for what I think I should do, but what I believe I should do.
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Sometimes it becomes very clear what God wants us to do; other times it's less obvious. But before you jump ahead, give God a chance to speak to your heart.
God Is On Your Side, No Matter What
James 1:5-6 (AMP) says, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given to him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting)."
I hope that you noticed it says, "If any of you" need wisdom. God isn't looking for perfect people; they don't exist. So no matter where you are, God wants to help you! Isn't that good news?
God will never leave you or forsake you, and He will always remain faithful to His Word. All you have to do is ask and receive, dismissing the doubts that set themselves up against His Word. If you can do that, there's no telling what God will make happen in your life.
Words of Faith Bring Clarity and Confidence
Romans 4 gives a wonderful account of the story of Abraham, one of the great heroes of faith. Verses 18-19 (AMP) say, "[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised…. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb."
Abraham considered the facts. But he still believed God was greater. Verse 20 says, "No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."
Instead of relying only on what we see around us, you and I can choose to believe God's Word. And we can open our mouths to speak words of thanks, like this:
"God, I remember the good things You've done for me and how You've been faithful to those who've trusted in You through the ages. I'm giving You praise today because I know You'll always be faithful."
Doubt cannot make you cave in if you will open your mouth and war against it with words of faith.
Be Ready to Be Stretched in Times of Waiting
Like Abraham, we all have times of waiting that God uses to test and stretch our faith. But He promises to work all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Honestly, if we can keep a good attitude throughout the process, our wait time might be shorter than it would be if we decided we'd rather murmur and complain. God wants to use the challenges we experience to draw us closer to Him so that when our prayer is finally answered and our day of breakthrough comes, we'll be stronger in our faith and able to withstand any opposition that comes against us.
Hebrews 10:36 says, "For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
It takes boldness to believe God's promises are for you and not just for everyone else. It takes boldness to cling to His promises when the world around you says: It will never happen! And it takes boldness to step out in faith and try something new. But be encouraged. God isn't concerned about you making mistakes. He knows you're not perfect and He wants to give you His wisdom and strength to do everything He's put in your heart.
So stop doubting and step out in faith…and believe God can do something amazing in you and through you. He wants to see boldness in you!
