May 15, 2009

Faith and Doubt

...Surely, while we teach that faith ought to be certain and assured, we cannot imagine any certainty that is not tinged with doubt, or any assurance that is not assailed by some anxiety...Scripture sets forth no more illustrious or memorable example of faith than in David, especially if you look at the whole course of his life. Yet with innumerable complaints he declares how unquiet his mind always was...
John Calvin - The Institutes of The Christian Religion 3.2.17

Do you ever struggle with doubt, and wonder about your faith?

You are not alone. King David, described by Scripture as a man after God's own heart, struggled with doubt. He struggled with sin, which had a lot to do with his doubt. Knowing his own imperfections, his own sinfulness, how could he not doubt his faith. And maybe, in his darkest thoughts, how could he not doubt God?

We are born to struggle with our sin nature and I have to look at that as a blessing. We can only be saved by Jesus, by our faith and trust which we place in him. If we did not struggle with sin, would we place that faith, or just give in to the nature we are born with. To me, the struggle places us on the roadside on the way to salvation, and it is Jesus who gives us the ride home.

Is it OK to doubt? Not really, we are called to faith and trust in Jesus.

Is it human to doubt? Absolutely, it is in our nature to do so.

Thank you Lord for the grace, mercy and love you show this natural doubter.

2 comments:

sumptersam said...

praise god i was able to read your words today!

Ancoti said...

Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed the read!