Praying Your Doubts

Psalm 73:1-3;12-26 (NIV) 1Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…12This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. 15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children. 16When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20As a dream when one awakes; so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 21When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

The condition of doubt:

Doubt-It’s a form of spiritual/emotional disorientation.

Doubts can happen to anybody.

Doubts can produce a positive effect.

An Interesting Observation:

If you start with doubts, you end in certainty.

John 20:24-28 (NLT) 24One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

If you start with certainty, you end in doubts.

Conclusion: Don’t be over awed by your doubts. Use them.

John 1:43-46 (NLT) 43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.

The cause of doubt:

When pain becomes personal.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) “For we walk by faith, not by sight…”

Faith is not opposed to reason.

Faith is holding onto something in spite of appearances.

The cure of doubt:

1. Doubt your doubts.

Psalm 73:3 (NIV) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

2. Enter the temple.

Psalm 73:17 (NIV) …till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

3. Compare the footholds.

Psalm 73:18 (NIV) Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.

4. Feel for his hand.

Psalm 73:23 (NIV) Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

Talk It Over

• Have you ever struggled with doubting God? How did you “cure your doubt”?
• Pastor Shane shared three “conditions of doubt”. Which condition do you struggle with the most?
• How does being in fellowship with other believers and attending church services strengthen your faith?
• Can you think of an ideal culture or group structure that would encourage open sharing about doubts, questions, or temptations? What does this look like to you?
• Do you think being “rich and famous”, frees people from doubt? Why or why not?
• Have you ever felt that the sacrifices you have made to live for God are a waste of time? How did you resolve your crisis of faith?
• Parents: Relax when your children ask skeptical questions, there is always a degree of doubt in anyone’s faith! How can you tackle this? Allow your kids to ask questions, and it’s okay to not have all the answers (this is a tough one for most of us). This week take some time to pray with your children and allow them to share with you their thoughts about God. Memorize 1 John 4:18 as a family and take time to see God in the little moments this week.