Overcoming doubt and unbelief - Choose True Faith

Overcoming doubt & unbelief 

Faith, Trust, Belief

John 8:45"I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me."

 

Jesus was speaking to the religious folk of the day who where challenging Him for the umpteenth time. He was calling them out on their unbelief.

 

There is a journey one takes towards unbelief - it is preceded by doubt which is preceded by expectation.

 

Expectation is seeing from our perspective.

a. "I expect the hotel room to look as nice as the picture."

b. "I expect to receive the promotion due to my recent performance,"

c. "I expect to be looked after because I am a victim of circumstance."

 

Expectation is preached from pulpits, in motivational books and seminars and has been paraded as the key to positive thinking. As I researched the various dictionary meanings for expectation I realized this imposter is trying to disguise itself as FAITH.

 

Expectation actually opens the door to doubt.

a. "Because the hotel room doesn't look as nice as the pictures, I doubt we will have a good holiday"

b. "Because I did not receive the promotion due to my performance recently, I doubt I am valued in this company"

c. "Because I am not being l looked after as a victim of circumstance, I doubt you care or love me"

 

Doubt knows how to trigger emotions to try to over ride our natural instinct to TRUST and give the benefit of the doubt. After an exhaustive battle in one's mind there are only 2 possible outcomes- belief or unbelief.

 

Unbelief seems to reach extreme negative conclusions.

a. "Because this hotel room doesn't look as nice as the pictures, I doubt we will have a good holiday, I won't ever stay at this chain of hotels"

b. "Because I did not receive the promotion due to my performance recently, I doubt I am valued in this company. I am going to work for their competitor"

c. "Because I am not being looked after as a victim of circumstance, I doubt you care or love me so you are not a good person" 

 

The Israelites journey to leave Egypt is a great lesson on the consequences of belief vs.unbelief. They had been crying out to the Lord to rescue them from the slavery of Egypt.

 

He answered their prayers and sent Moses and Aaron.

Expectation says: Pharoah will let us go. We'll move to our promised land and this is how it will happen....

Faith says: My prayers have been answered! 

 

Moses and Aaron spoke to Pharoah - he would not let the Israelites leave,more rations were taken away and the work became more intense.

Expectation says: "Shame on you Moses and Aaron, how dare you come here and tell us we're leaving. Now look what you've caused. We're worse off now than before you came. I doubt the promised land even exists. It would have been better if you had never come"

Faith says: My prayers were answered. I will enter the promised land.

 

We see this same situation play out at the banks of the Red Sea, when they were hungry, thirsty and pursued by Pharoah's army. At the foot of Mount Sinai when they sent the spies to scout out the land filled with giants. Moses had faith. 

 

Joshua and Caleb had faith. They trusted the One who answered every prayer and performed mighty signs and wonders.They believed the land was theirs for the taking. They were rewarded and spent their last days in the Promised land. The other 10 spies had expectation that led to doubt which led to unbelief for many and they died in the desert. 

 

What are your expectations? What if those expectations are not met? The end of that road is nothing but emptiness. Instead choose to have faith.

 

You don't need to know all the details. Trust the One who loves you relentlessly. This is a sure way to not only enjoy the promise land but to have an adventure getting there!

 

Only BELIEVE!

 

Lee Smith