WHEN IN DOUBT… “O Lord you deceived me and I was deceived…the word of the Lord has brought me...

WHEN IN DOUBT…

“O Lord you deceived me and I was deceived…the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach…Why did I ever come out of the womb…?” (Jeremiah 20:7; 8; 18).

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty for the Lord is good…” Jeremiah declares “…his love endures forever…” (Jeremiah 33:11).

“A man may be haunted with doubts…only [to] grow [deeper] in faith. [For] doubts are the messengers of the Living One to the honest. They are the first knock at our door, of things that are not yet, but have to be, understood.”

Accept: Life Is A ‘Mixed Bag’ Of Feelings and

Events

Consider it pure joy when you encounter the ‘mixed bag’ of life, even the trials of life. “…Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance [which results in you becoming] mature and complete…” (James 1:2-4).

Believe: God Expects Our Confusion, Welcoming

Our Doubts.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault…” (James 1:5).

Abraham doubts so severely, he laughs at God: “…will a son be born to a man a hundred years old…” (Genesis

17:17-18). But God “hangs-in” with Abraham. “Yes…your wife will bear you a son…” (Genesis 17:19).

In 1 Kings 19 Elijah doubts so deeply, he gets depressed, running from God: “I have had enough Lord…Take my life…” (1 Kings 19:4). But God “hangs-in” with Elijah. And then “…the Lord… touched [Elijah] and said, ‘Get up and eat…So [Elijah] got up…” (1 Kings 19:7-8).

Move: With God Through Reservations And

Uncertainty.

We must “…believe and not [get stuck in doubt] because he who [gets stuck in doubt] is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind… [becoming] double-minded…unstable…” (James 1:6-8).

You see, the dad notes to Jesus, my boy has been this way “…from childhood… [and the convulsions have] often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything [Jesus] -- take pity on us and help us…” (Mark 9:22).

“If you can?” Jesus exhorts. [If Jesus can?] [Listen] everything is possible for him who believes…!” in Me (Mark 9:23,

emphasis added).

Yes you can Jesus!

God we belong to you! In good times and in bad times -- in up times and in down times -- in confidant times and doubting times – God we belong to you!

For Jeremiah is right: “…the Lord is good, his love endures forever…” (Jeremiah 33:11).

God we belong to you!”