Doubt and unbelief are feelings and thoughts that we all have at times.

When it looks like things won’t work out. When we are facing difficult situations. Even when life is good and things seem to go as planned.

So what is doubt and unbelief? Are they different? Similar? That’s a good question!

 

They are different, but often seen as the same.

 

To doubt you must first believe in something.

 

Something spiritual, physical or mentally. It can be believing in Christ as our Savior. It can be believing that something you saw is real. It can be believing that you can or cannot do something.

 

As a Christian, doubt is not seen as the absence of faith, but rather as a question of faith. A question of belief. Will I get through this trial? Will God provide what I need in time? Will....?

 

The constant wondering and overthinking. The fear that it might not happen. It’s not believing that God doesn’t exist. It’s wondering does He care enough to get me through this trial? God provides, but will He provide for me as He does for others? And will He do it in time?

Can we blame Thomas? Can we judge him on his actions? No, we can’t!

How many times has God come through for us? How many times did He provide? How many times has God told us that it is possible to do something? For each person it will be different because our situations are different. We are different. But the proof is there. God can and He will.

 

The problem comes from deep inside ourselves. James 1:6 is clearly written

“But when you ask, you must not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” What do we do about it?

How do we overcome these two emotionally draining situations?

 

Identify it. Discern if it's doubt or unbelief. Practice self-awareness. Get to know yourself. Ask a friend or family member to pray with you, to talk this through with you. You will be surprised how often you can come up with the answer yourself just by talking about it. It’s important not to beat yourself up about it! Be willing to change, to correct what is needed. We all need correction from time to time.

 

We need to adjust our course and focus. We need to get confidence and surety. Spend time with God. Remind yourself about all the times He did come through for you. All the times He did provide. All the times you thought you couldn’t do something, but you did. 

 

Think about this – when you sense that doubt or unbelief is coming on, do you find yourself sitting and wondering too long? Are you too stubborn to admit that you might be wrong?

 

Doubt comes by indecision. And that leads to fear. Before you know it, you’re sitting in a heap depressed and filled with fear. Take action, make a decision. Take the next step. Be willing to move forward and know

that you won’t always have the answers. Rely on faith, not doubt. Be willing and open. Learn from others. Investigate and research the areas where you

struggle with unbelief. You might learn something. You might overcome that unbelief!

 

Help others overcome their doubt and unbelief. Experience is the best weapon you can have. Work your faith muscle. The more you work it, the stronger it will grow. Remove yourself from the situation. Step out of it for a while. Take a break. It will give you a new perspective. Approach it with a new and fresh view. Ask yourself “How would I answer someone that’s struggling with this”

 

Be willing to be honest with yourself. Open up to others about how you feel. You are not alone in this. You might be surprised how many people have the same doubts or unbelief. Doubt and unbelief can be like a spell cast upon us, overpowering and stealing our joy and happiness, breaking down our confidence.

 

Overcome doubt and unbelief by knowing God’s will. Study His word. Know His promises and desires for you. Build up your faith. Make it as strong as possible. Start rejecting fear. Cast it out of your life as much as possible.

Believe in yourself! Believe in the love and power of God! Believe He's there for you!

 

Believe!

 

Ray Wienand