After Easter; Do you ever doubt?

Let’s get real for a moment, do you ever doubt? Maybe you doubt you are going to get that job, or wonder if God is ever going to heal you? You might feel like you will never be able to get out of debt? Doubts are normal and most of us have them. But Jesus teaches us to “Stop doubting and believe.” For those of us who doubt, this may seem impossible. But today, I want to give you hope that with God all things are possible.

The Barna Group, an evangelical Christian polling firm out of CA, says that “two-thirds of all Christians doubt.” Two-thirds! That’s more than 1/2 of us! So if we, as Christians, believe all things are possible with God, why do we doubt so much? Let’s see if we can figure out why and what we can do about it.

God’s got a message just for you that might just change your life.

A couple of weeks ago, we discovered wonder which keeps us open to possibilities. Wonder and doubt are closely related and both deal with the unknown. Doubt is nothing more than a feeling of uncertainty. It is that logical part of our brain that says, “I’m not sure about this.” But it is our own personal experience that shows us the difference in the two.

Last week, we saw the disciples “locked up for fear.” They obviously had lots of doubts about what was going on. Jesus appeared, settling their fears and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. What an incredible experience!

However, Thomas was not there. He missed it. I can only imagine how aggravated he must have felt to have missed out on this amazing occurrence. And then, to have to listen to his friends boast about it. In his frustration, he blurted out, “unless I see for myself, I will not believe!”

One week later, while they were all locked up in that same room, Jesus came and stood before Thomas saying, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

This should give us all hope. Thomas gets such a bad wrap for his doubting. But I cannot even count the number times I have doubted God. But, just like Thomas, when we find ourselves in situations beyond our control, rest assured, God has a purpose!

When Jesus appeared this time, He did not come to show Himself to the group, but directly to Thomas. We can be confident Jesus will make Himself known to us in spite of our doubts. Because when we experience Christ, like Thomas, we will be proclaiming, “My Lord and my God!” We have no choice but to stop doubting and believe!

There is a story, in Mark, where Jesus shows the disciples the power of belief. I have to wonder if Thomas was there that day, listening, seeing, learning.

Mark 11:20-24 reads;

“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” 

The day before, Jesus cursed that fig tree in front of them. The very next day, it was dead. Peter noticed it. And Jesus’ responded, “Have faith in God.” In Matthew 21-21-22, Jesus says it this way, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Doubting is human nature, but the cure is our personal relationship with Jesus. Look at your life. Recount the times God has come through for you. Remember all the miracles you have experienced. All these things, both in your life and written throughout the scriptures, are so that you might believe. Stop doubting and believe!

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Let us pray;

Father God, we believe, heal our unbelief. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

P.S. Leave me a comment because I love hearing from you. Forward this message to a friend or share it on Facebook. Until next time, “stop doubting and believe.” -M