A Visitor’s Guide to Doubt

by | Apr 9, 2020 | Best of the Blog, Devotional | 4 comments

dark_city.jpg

Recently I took a trip to a place called Doubt, famous for its confusion, insecurity, and total lack of confidence — a trip sponsored by The Man Downstairs. Reviews of Doubt range from “The literal worst” to “I’m never going back there again,” which explains its zero-star rating (not surprised). My hope is that you’ll never find yourself passing through. But just in case you do, here’s a little guide I put together to help you find your way out.

Things you should know when you arrive: There are no certainties. There is no past or current evidence that God is real, and there are definitely no answered prayers. There are, however, lots of folks repeating phrases like, “I just don’t know,” and, “No, that can’t be true,” and, “Are you sure you don’t want to overthink that until you’re blue in the face questioning everything you ever believed?” Very comforting. (Not.) You can’t make a decision without considering all the negative “what ifs.” And don’t even try to trust that things will work out because the second you do, you’ll think of 10 reasons it won’t.

Other things of note: Every road is broken. And they’re all named “The Right One” so you never actually know which to take. Also everyone else in Doubt is just as unsure as you, so don’t ask for directions. They’ll just steer you wrong.

Basically, it’s not the best place in the world. And if you can avoid it at all costs, you should. But as an experienced traveler to Doubt and other places like Anxiety and Fear, I know that it’s easy to get lost and find yourself there.

Here’s the solution, folks. Just outside of Doubt, there’s a place called Faith, where every prayer is answered, every human lifts you up, and the best part? God is real. Like, for-real real. Faith’s reviews range from “I’m never leaving!” to “A hidden gem!” to (my personal favorite) “Everything just works!”

So how do you ditch Doubt and find Faith? It’s not easy, but you won’t regret the journey. Doubt will give you roadblocks, detours, and U-turns to delay your departure. But if you really want out, try what works for me:

  1. Pray. Seems obvious, but it’s foolproof. Ask Him to show you the door and for His voice to be louder than the iffy ones around you. Then, listen for His cues.
  2. Phone a friend. Preferably, one who’s been to Doubt and back. They’ll recall their own experiences, remind you that Doubt is full of lies, and help you find the exit. (P.S. I can be that person for you. Seriously. crose1224@gmail.com)
  3. Practice walking on water. When Jesus called Peter to step out on the water, he didn’t hesitate. He was walking! On water! Until he doubted and sank. The more we practice putting our trust in Him, the easier it is to live in Faith.

The message Jesus gave us with that story is pretty clear: When we activate our faith, we get closer to Him. When we doubt His power, we fall. Remember this: Doubt is a place designed by the enemy to trick us, trap us, and make us lose our footing. Meanwhile, Faith is a place designed by our awesome God where we can hear His direction, feel His comfort, and relax into His Spirit. I think we all know, undoubtedly, which one we’d choose. So, road trip anyone?

Bio Charity

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.

Author

4 Comments

  1. Brother Gary Thompson

    Yea and amen!!!

    Reply
  2. Suzanne Beeman

    WOW This was a great blog. Thank you for your inspired words.

    Reply
  3. Melanie Risola

    My incredible cousin!!! What a light of the world and a light in my life! I love you!

    Reply
  4. Jim calabro

    Great Job Sister Charity on your Post love it true words

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further Reading

Second to God

“Do you really love me?” my father would ask. With a smile, my mother would nod.  I felt warm inside when mother replied, “Don’t you know, you come second to God”* If you had a conversation similar to the above with your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, best...

Read More

Shake the Dust Off Your Feet

As Jesus continues to prepare His twelve Apostles for the mission He is sending them on, He gives them some unusual instructions regarding lodging in each city that they will visit. Rather than make arrangements to stay at an inn (and since they’re also told to not...

Read More

Never Miss a New Article

Subscribe to Our Email List
Sign up and get every new blog post sent straight to your inbox so you always have the day’s devotional at your fingertips.

We never share your email address with anyone for any reason, and we use it only to send you Gospel Blog emails. Just articles, not ads!

Your Story for God’s Glory

Share Your Testimony on Miracle Monday

We devote Miracle Monday to sharing miracle stories. From finding a lost wedding ring to healing cancer on the spot, Jesus Christ has done it all, big and small.

And we want to hear about what He’s done for you.

The Gospel Blog Is Open for Submissions

We encourage devotional-style or scripture-based articles in the ballpark of 500 words. We are open to any topic that glorifies God and unites the Church.