Doubt

During our walk with God, everyone will go through bouts of doubt and impatience. Most times this is due to us putting God on our time schedule or listening to those who don't believe. Doubt is a lack of faith. Christianity and our personal relationship with God is based solely on the idea of faith. If we have no faith, then ultimately, what do we have? God desires for us to be faithful to him as he is faithful to us. What is doubt? What are the characteristics of a faithful individual and how can we achieve this in our own lives?

What is DOUBT?

Isaiah 40:27-28 (NLT)
"O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding."

Doubt is having a lack of faith. In our walk with God, this translates to mean that we aren't trusting him to be our provider and creator. In Psalms 139, verses 13-18, David writes about how God is all powerful and how he has been providing and preparing for us since before we were born. How amazing is that? There is no room for doubt in a relationship with God.

Characteristics of FAITH:

1. Loving
1 John 4:12 (NLT)
"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us."

This verse really shows that through love, faith is bred. It says that although we haven't ever seen God we should have the faith to love others and him.

2. Forgiving
2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT)
"If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself."

No matter how many times we mess up and ask for forgiveness God is there. He has faith each time and through forgiving others and ourselves we gain faith in his power.

3. Just
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (NLT)
"The Lord your God is the God of gods and and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing."

God is a just and fair God who will not look upon anyone with partiality. We will each be judged by him for our sins. He shows his love for us through his discipline. When we are disciplined, we can feel his love and it will enrich our walk of faith.

How to be FAITHFUL?
Genesis 15:6 (NLT)
"And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith."

Abraham had to give everything to the Lord and have complete faith that he would keep his promises to him. In our own lives we have to do the same things. If an upcoming bill is your burden or a family illness is the problem, you have to release the entire thing to God and have faith in his power.

I want to end with this passage:
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)
"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains."