Ask The Pastor

By Pastor Scott Denham of Harvest Fellowship, Shambaugh, IA

 

Doubts About God

 

Dear Pastor Scott,

            I am sometimes plagued with doubts about God. I’ve been able to work through them, but I’d like to be a little more settled on the issue. Any suggestions? –M.L.

 

Dear M.L.,

            Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the overcoming of doubt. Apparently, doubt is a very important ingredient of faith, because it forces us to know what we really believe.

            Do you remember “Doubting Thomas?” Though skeptical by nature, yet he was one of the twelve apostles, whom Christ chose. This man of doubts, who, after witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus, came to the conclusion, it was all over. Even after others had seen the risen Christ, Thomas was adamant; “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." [John 25:20]

            Finally, as if saving the best for last, Christ appears to Thomas. That stunning encounter was enough to chase the dark clouds of doubt away, and in a profound reversal, Thomas declares; “My Lord and my God!” [John 25:28] His faith was not the absence of doubt, but the overcoming of doubt.

            Doubt is no problem, provided we don’t give up on the journey, and we look to the best sources for guiding us through the struggle—good friends we can confide in and receive from their encouragement, prayer and bible reading, good Christian books to aid in the journey, and don’t forget the church. When doubt is greatest, is when we most need to be with other Christians, because, “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” [Proverbs 27:17]

            As for Thomas, let’s give the guy a little credit… and ourselves while we’re at it.

 

--Pastor Scott

To submit your question for Pastor Scott, you may write to: Ask The Pastor, PO Box 98, Shambaugh, IA 51651, or on the web at www.askpastorscott.com