August 29, 2018

Why Do You Doubt?

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

   – Acts 3:16

We ask God constantly for things. It might be healing. It could be a request for a new job or saving grace for a lost child. We bombard Him with requests every day. But do we truly believe that He can and will do what we ask?

James says that we don’t have because we don’t ask. And we don’t truly believe. Oh, we know that God can do anything. We just don’t believe He will.

My favorite movie is Facing the Giants. It’s a Kendrick Brothers movie that focuses on many issues we all deal with. How do we keep believing God will show up when day after day we hope and pray and life still seems to go from bad to worse?

Then God shows up. He always does. And have you ever noticed when God shows up He does it in a big way? In the movie, the underdog team that wasn’t supposed to have more than a mediocre season ends up winning the state championship. The coach who was on the verge of being fired, gets a pay raise and job security. And the coach and his wife, who are facing infertility end up pregnant.

Let’s continue: the soccer player turned kicker, who doesn’t believe he can do it, makes the winning field goal. Did you catch that? He didn’t believe he could. But the coach asked him if he believed God could help him make that kick. Well, of course. It’s what all of us would say. The coach tells the player to go out there and give it everything he’s got and trust God with the rest.

God can and will do anything for His children. But we have to ask. We have to show up and try. And we have to believe in His goodness to know that He loves us and truly wants only good for us.

We keep waiting for the miracle before we start forward. God is saying trust Him, start moving and know that He is there and will use whatever is going on for our benefit and His glory.

In this passage of Scripture, a man who was lame from birth asked Peter and John for money. Peter demanded that the man look at them, then he told the man they didn’t have money to give him but “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” and then he helped the man up.

Everyone saw the man walking and praising God. They were amazed at the miracle. Peter asked them why they were so surprised. He then reminded the crowd that they’d handed Jesus over to be crucified but God raised Jesus from the dead. It is Jesus who made the man strong. It is Jesus who makes us strong.

What would happen if we stopped doubting God’s goodness and trusted that He would see us through whatever we’re facing? What would happen if we stepped out in faith and trusted that God would lead us down the right path instead of holding back in fear and doubt?

There are days when your faith probably burns like fire and you are on that mountain top ready to take on anything you face. And then there are days when you’re likely cowering back, afraid to try, afraid to change, afraid to believe. Step out in faith anyway. Just reach out and put your hand in His and trust in Him. God loves you. God is good. When you don’t trust in anything else, trust in that.