3 Steps to Defeat Doubt and Unbelief
I remember the morning years ago when I was making my bed and I clearly heard God speak to my heart that He was calling me to teach the Bible to people all over the world.
At the time, I was a housewife in Fenton, Missouri, and having a ministry like this didn't seem likely. But God had a plan, and He's brought it to pass over the last 35-plus years as I've learned to walk by faith that He would do what He said He would do.
It didn't happen overnight, of course; it took time, effort and a determined decision to not give up when things were difficult.
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But I can tell you that it is possible for you to fulfill God's purpose and plans for your life if you will have an attitude that says: "I'm going to fulfill my destiny, enjoy the journey, and have everything Jesus died to give me!"
Make Up Your Mind to Believe
Doubt and unbelief are problems for people who struggle to have a strong faith in God.
James 1:5-8 (NIV) says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."
God works in our lives through faith, not unbelief. It's so important for us to understand this because we don't want to live in situations where God can't do anything because of our unbelief.
When Jesus was ministering to people in His hometown of Nazareth, Matthew 13:58 (AMPC) says that "He did not do many works of power there, because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in the divine mission of Jesus)."
The good news is we can make up our minds that we're going to trust Him, stand firm and remain steadfast in our faith.
Learning from the Father of Our Faith
Romans 4:18-21 tells us about how Abraham believed in God that he would become "the father of many nations" (NIV) even though it didn't seem possible, naturally speaking.
Verse 18 says, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed …."
He had no reason whatsoever to believe he and Sarah, his wife, would have a child because at this stage in life, they were beyond their childbearing years. They needed a miracle.
Verses 19-21 say, "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised."
These scriptures show us that Abraham considered his circumstances — he was impotent and Sarah was barren — but he did not waver in his faith in God. Instead, he grew strong in his faith as he gave praise and glory to God.
This is a key to defeating doubt and unbelief. We need to face our circumstances but not focus on them. When doubt is coming against us, we need to praise God and remember who He is and the other victories He's given us in our lives.
Make It Practical
The simple way to do this is by talking about God's goodness and the things He's done for you, not just your problems. Set your mind and keep it set to walk by faith, trusting that God has something good in store for you. Don't keep trying to figure everything out or do something about a situation you can't do anything about. Do what you know to do and believe that God will take care of the rest.
It's especially important to spend time meditating on the Word of God during these times. There are so many great scriptures that will renew your mind and line up your thoughts and words in agreement with God.
Here are a few:
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (NIV).
Romans 8:37 "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (NIV).
1 Peter 5:7 "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully" (AMPC).
I want to encourage you today to trust God's love for you. Keep standing in faith for His will to be done and keep pressing on, one day at a time, to do what He's showing you to do. Put your hope in Him to do something good in your life and confidently expect it, because with God on your side, all things are possible!
