This week, I am going to talk about the subject of doubt. The Webster's definition of doubt is "an inclination not to believe or accept; a lack of confidence; giving rise to uncertainty, hesitation or suspense." Lots of Christians have doubts about their faith. Doubt is human certainty and a lot of the people in the Bible doubted God at one time. One of them was Sarah, the wife of Abraham. God spoke to Abraham saying that "he will have descendants as numerous as the stars." When Abraham told this to Sarah, she doubted God. Sarah doubted God because she was of old age and she was barren for many years

Sarah, in her doubt, told Abraham to have sex with her servant Hagar with the intent of getting Hagar pregnant. Using servants to provide children was a common practice in the days of Abraham when a woman could not have children of her own. Abraham obeyed his wife and had sex with Hagar. Hagar then became pregnant and gave birth to Ishmael. Abraham loved Ishmael and raised him up to a teenage age. Sarah and Hagar grew to have bitterness for each other. Abraham, trying to diffuse conflict, sent Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness with God's assurance that Ishmael would survive.

In Sarah's doubt, God visited her and made her pregnant with Isaac. Isaac had children, his children had children, and their children continued to have children. Why do I say all of this? I say this to show in the midst of our doubt, God still loves us and hears our prayers and our outcries.

Still not convinced? Another example in the Bible of doubt is Job. Job was a good and faithful servant of God. Job believed in God so much that God allowed Satan to do terrible things to Job, short of killing him (such as killing his children, his livestock, destroying his home and his fields, inflicting Job with sickness).

Even in the horrible circumstances that Job was experiencing, he never lost his faith in the Lord. Imagine if horrible things happened to us. A lot of people would abandon God in the bad times because they would think that God was responsible for "letting a bad thing happen". I hear this a lot of people's mouths. I hear statements such as "If God is so good, then why does he allow bad things to happen?" There is no right of the wrong answer for this exact question. I could say that it was because of human sin, but that's not always the case. What I can say is that God is there to help in the bad times, when we're broken without words, when we struggle in our lives, when there seems to be no happiness.

In Matthew 11: 28-30, God says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." How comforting is that? God loves us so much that He wants to help us in the good times and the bad times.

Finally, the last examples I am going to tell you about is Thomas and Peter, disciples of Jesus. After Jesus was crucified on the cross, Jesus rose again after three days. Jesus then went to Mary Magdalene, John, Peter, and all the other disciples. Thomas was alone in his home mourning for Jesus. Because Thomas was so devastated over Jesus' crucifixion, he refused to believed that Jesus resurrected from his grave. Thomas said, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." (John 20:25)

Jesus spoke to his disciples eight days later and spoke to Thomas directly because He knew that Thomas had doubted that He was resurrected. Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:27-29).

Peter also doubted when Jesus was still alive before his crucifixion. Peter and the other disciples were in a boat. Jesus was standing and walking on the water. Jesus called Peter and told Him to walk on the water. Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water to Jesus. Peter then looked back in fear at the boat he stepped out of. Because he looked back to the boat in fear, he momentarily doubted Jesus. When Peter doubted Jesus' power, Peter fell in the water. Jesus used it as a lesson to teach us to trust in God always.

To doubt is okay. It is part of our human nature. Jesus never cursed Peter or Thomas for doubting. Likewise, God never cursed Sarah for doubting either. But our doubt keeps us from experiencing God's immense love and power. I have learned this personally. I have trouble believing in God's will and timing sometimes and a constant prayer I pray to God is to open my heart and remove my doubts so I can trust in Him more. When I write these pieces, I am suggesting these things in love rather than judging you.

I personally encourage you to believe in God more and pray for that constantly, because to experience God's love and power is amazing.

With God's love,

Matt Hasty