BIBLE BITES
DOUBTING GOD
“If you walked a mile in my shoes, you’d understand why I am having doubts about God. Sure, I’ve heard the classic stories of believers who never doubted God in their troubles but those stories must be fairy-tales or urban myths – the stuff that books are written about. You’d be doubting too if you were in my circumstances today.”
You don’t have to be struggling with life to be blind-sided by doubts. Even in a perfect situation you could be attacked by a powerful doubt-missile. Eve may have been singing a beautiful hymn of praise to the Almighty Creator as she happily served God in her daily duties in the Garden. One moment enjoying sweet fellowship with her Lord and the next moment – puzzled, wondering, looking at things differently, doubting and caving in to doubts, deceit, and desires. Ever been there?
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
He said to the woman,
“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
(Genesis 3:1)
“If God is supposed to be such a good God, why would He ever deprive you of eating from any tree – not to mention this beautiful one right here? Just think about it Eve! This God whom you love, can He really be as good as you originally thought He was? So much for the ‘God is Good’ slogan you and Adam have hanging in your home. You have every reason to be having second thoughts about this God. If the tree could make you wiser and allow you to share in God’s knowledge of what’s good and evil – why would this ‘good’ God of yours ever block you from such a tree? Just look at that tree. Look at the trunk; look at its branches; look at its leaves – aha….Eve, look at its fruit. Good to look at for sure, but even better to taste. And this thing about dying if you take a bite – not a chance, Eve. Did God tell you that? You can’t trust Him. The reality is, if you sink your teeth into that juicy fruit, you will see as you never saw before and think thoughts you never had before. Say after me Eve as you look and look and look some more: ‘Delicious, delightful and desirable!’ Yes, highly desirable, Eve. Go for it.”
And go-for-it she did and so did Adam. What a disaster!
Are you flooded with doubts today about God? Do you feel as if you are standing on only one leg and you are beginning to shake and tip – losing your balance and about to fall over or fall down? Are you horrified that you are actually having doubtful thoughts about God?
Satan wanted Eve to forget about every good thing God had given them and to focus on the one thing she could not have. How quickly she lost perspective! What is Satan trying to get you to focus on today? Are you doubting God because of that one thing? Have you quickly forgotten all the blessings that are yours through Jesus Christ our Lord?
“Lord, give me strength to run from the temptation and to resist the Devil. These thoughts I am having are not produced by Your Spirit within me. Satan is the father of lies and he is lying to me in these doubts I am having. Lord, I open up every facet of my being to You and close every portal to Satan. Refocus my eyes today to be thrilled with the beauties of my Saviour and Lord and to surrender only and always to Him.”
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,
Peter Ramsay