“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
~ Saint Irenaeus
Have you ever secretly questioned your salvation? Dared not admit it to anyone else (or maybe, not even “out loud” to yourself)?
In the hidden places of your heart and mind doubts creep in like ants at a picnic, uninvited thieves you’d like not to shoo away, but obliterate! It seems like everyone else is so sure about their faith, but you have questions where they seem to have answers.
What compels you to feel this way?
- That “big” sin committed years ago, the one you think unforgivable, the one no one knows, the ghost that threatens to shame you if anyone found out.
- A lack of spiritual discipline, you never feel like you pray, study, serve or read scripture enough.
- Inconsistency between the faith you profess and the faith you live.
- Your struggle to reconcile the pain and suffering in this world with a God who supposedly loves and cares for His people.
- Your spiritual Achilles Heel, besetting sin, that familiar spirit that knows you well and easily entangles you.
- A spiritual Tar Baby–the more you fight against it, the deeper you’re stuck.
Lovies, hear me loud, hear me clear: THEY…ARE…ALL…LIES!
“The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.” ~ John Eldredge, Waking the Dead
Satan is not omniscient but he knows those who belong to the Lord. He hates them for it.
He hates you and me.
Satan knows God has set his children apart for Kingdom purpose, now and for eternity. His singular goal from our salvation to physical death is to attempt to steal…kill…and destroy the very things God has extended to his babies. Deftly, he seeks to accomplish this by making us forget all we’ve been given in Christ–
- grace
- forgiveness
- mercy
- acceptance
- strength
- wisdom
- redemption
- an inheritance
- a new heart
… and among so many other gifts, unconditional love.
For me, doubt made me question my salvation. Doubt was the impetus for my own forgetfulness. Sometimes I wrestled with questions that to me had no answers–certainly no easy ones! When well-meaning friends responded with Sunday school answers or trite religious platitudes, it only served to make me question further but silently. Frustrated, I felt lost emotionally and spiritually.
Which is why I’m beyond-words grateful for Jesus’ first recorded miracle following his transfiguration in Mark 9. It’s the story of a father who begged Jesus to heal his mute and seizure-riddled son. In verse 23 Jesus tells this father “All things are possible for him who believes,” and in 24, “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
I do believe. Help my unbelief.
Six words that minister life and love and generosity and kindness from my God who knows me so well he provides a written account of someone I can relate to, someone with an imperfect but honest faith, a six-word prayer that gives me the assurance that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it.
I realized doubting didn’t undermine my faith, it drove me to seek answers. Paradoxically and mysteriously, the way faith often functions, God redeemed what I considered “counter-Godly” to be used to bring me closer to him.
What about you? Do you have a “life-line” scripture that feels like God preserved it in his Word just for you? Please share–we’ll all be encouraged!
My fave is, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” After feeling abandoned and unwanted so often in my life, that promise is gold to me. 🙂
“For I know the plans I have for you declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jer. 29:11
This is the scripture that was used in my baptism on 6/9/09. This was my 2nd baptism, it was more for my own desires. I was baptized as a young girl but fell so far from church. I know I didnt need it again for my salvation, but it my way of rededicating my life back to Christ. He knows the plans he has for me in this crazy roller coaster that has been my life for the past 5 years. I keep going back to this verse, I keep saying it when I am struggling to take control again (everyday). He will not harm me, he will give me hope in him and he will give me a future with him.
Lisa
I love this Robin, what a great and timely word for us all! Thank you for stepping up to the plate so boldly with this declaration! I know, that I know, that I know that this is something that we all need to cling to!
A verse that bring me such peace and comfort was actually a verse that carried us through one of the most intensely painful and difficult times in our family. In 2005 our 11 year old son who had been healthy as can be starting having seizures and had to be airlifted to the nearest children’s hospital. He spent 51 days in the PICU and almost didn’t make it three times…one of the worst times I can ever or hope to ever experience as a mom, and one of his friends from school wrote us a giant poster board for his room (we covered his room with Scriptures, cards and poster boards from his friends) had this verse on it…
John 16:32 ~ Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me!
They were 11 simple words that breathed life, peace and comfort into our hearts during that horrible season of our lives.
Robin – I think this is one of my all time favorite things you have ever written. So beautiful. So bold. So much the champion for so many of us and the battle we have to fight against unbelief. Thank you!
really, i just think this says it all…i love everything you wrote in this post and needed to be reminded..thank you.
Robin, I love your wild love faith and how you give us permission to experience ALL of life with Jesus–even our doubts and fears. That photo reminded me of a long talk at sunrise on a beach and my heart just about broke achin’ for you, my friend! Thanks for bringing so much good and beauty to the world.
I loved this post. For me, the spirit of unbelief is also closely followed by one who whispers to me: “…and no one else struggles with this.” It is such a blessing and encouragement for me to know others with similar struggles.
Just wanted to say the “Tar-Baby” reference made my skin crawl. I realize it has been improperly construed as one of those phrases referring to Afro-Americans in a negative way. However, there are so many words or phrases that could have been inserted instead of this phrase…..Even Disney avoided the controversy by redoing much of their past efforts in order to be respectful. Felt you could have done likewise. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.
Loved this! Unbelief can be paralyzing! I know I need to start refocusing, not on the negative things that might happen but the wonderful things God has in store. Thank you for the beautiful reminder. Jeremiah 29:11 is my life verse and one I have to repeat over and over again 🙂
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Judy Lunsford, (in)courage . (in)courage said: And if you've got the Monday gloomies, oh sweet sister, please read this one by @PensieveRobin http://bit.ly/arTKIa […]
Thank you….I say to myself over and over when I have doubts about salvation or God the verse you quoted…’I believe! Lord, help me to overcome my unbelief!’ Because I DO BELIEVE and Satan wouldn’t have me to feel the assurance that is mine as God’s child!
My life verse, the one God gave me at a young age and has used to keep me going all these years since, through SO many very hard times, is Psalm 138:8 —
“The Lord will perfect(complete) that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord,
endureth for ever: forsake not the works
of thine own hands.”
When my son died in the womb when I was 24, that was the closest I ever came to walking. But Abba kept that verse in my head and the Holy Spirit made it real. And I clung to the promise when it was so hard then to cling to Him. I felt so betrayed. But it brought much good because I had to really decide my faith. It caused me to truly count the cost and not just slide on in the wake of everyone elses faith in Him. I grew up spiritually and put Him first…over me, over my desires and wishes, over everything. Now as I’m nearing 60, I still cling to that verse as well as to Him, because each year you live, life changes, and you have to decide through many things to keep running the race. His promise that He WILL perfect that which concerneth me, keeps me running.
It’s good to be reminded again that others besides me have their doubts, their feelings that they’re not good enough or worthy enough for God to keep on showing his mercy and forgiveness. Lord I believe, help my unbelief. Thank you, Lord, that YOU are my belief. It’s not me, my will, my thoughts, my gritted teeth. It’s what Jesus has already done! I can’t even have faith of my own, it too, like everything else, is a gift that’s already been given to me. To you. To all. Thank you.
Beautiful post… and needed!
I love this: “Lovies, hear me loud, hear me clear: THEY…ARE…ALL…LIES!
“The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.” ~ John Eldredge, Waking the Dead”
and this: “I realized doubting didn’t undermine my faith, it drove me to seek answers.”
There are so many verses that zing straight to my heart, so here are two:
Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Matthew 6:27, 33-34 – “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Oh wow! I so needed this today! thank you so much for sharing God’s heart with me today. This is timely. I have struggled with doubts for quite some time now. God has assured and reassured me and yet I find myself doubting again…I have poured over scripture, read books, sought help from ‘Elders’, prayed..e.verything and yet i doubt again. The latest bout with it came to a head last night during church. Pastor was speaking about Pharisees who looked (physically) at Jesus, yet denied Him, they held onto a rules oriented religion. All I heard was Pharisee…maybe that’s me. I began searching the scriptures for EVERY verse that mentioned Pharisee –‘I’ didn’t fit that mold, so i looked up the definition in a few different dictionaries (secular and Bible) and again I found I didn’t fit that mold.
My question to myself: if I am saved why do I keep struggling with doubt. the answer –satan seeks to steal kill and destroy.
Its my faith in JESUS that saved me and its not up to me to keep it. Its not about me, but what He did FOR me.
Some of the lies you listed above have plagued me…
I appreciate the Holy Spirit’s leading in you writing this…I see this as a direct answer to the prayer and plea of my heart.
thank you,
K
All I can say is thank you, thank you. I had such a wonderfully sweet relationship with the Lord. Then I had two beautiful baby boys and on the second one, post partum came in when I relapsed with a health condition (heart related). Darkness creeped in. I relied on feelings instead of TRUTH. I sought counsel. Our counsel was poor, very poor. And I tried to carry myself for a season. The truth is, He carried me. He will never leave me, my name is graven on His heart, His palms, He will never forget me. I choose to rest in Him. Although a struggle some days, I look at the deliverance He has brought in the past and I look forward to seeing victory again as I surrender to Him. Thank you again for sharing. God bless you!
Hey lovies!!!!
I’m actually on the road today on a college visit with my daughter and hate I can’t reply as your comments are coming in. I can’t wait to read them from something larger than my phone! I’ll respond to all soon because your words are encouragement to me 🙂
Thank you for your faithfulness!
AMEN for a fantastic post!! We all need to be reminded of who the enemy of our salvation is and how insidious he is in trying to undermine our faith. Because what he truly fears is a Christian full of faith and the Power of the Living God.
Robin,
I thought I was the only one. I came into the faith kicking and screaming. Wondered why all those other people just believed – sooooooo jealous of them. I had to fight for every inch of ground in the faith battle. I doubted EVERYTHING – and needed every answer. God met every doubt – answered every question. He stands the test and doesn’t mind the testing of an honest doubter. Bless his heart.
My faith is as strong as it is today because my doubt was as strong as it was. (and Our Lord – because of him too – well really all him – but I helped – I did – really)
Where proof is possible – faith is impossible.
Doubt is the handmaiden of faith – the touchstone of truth.
You continue to inspire Robin.
I’m blessed, really blessed to have found you – and I heart – big – fluffy – bright red big and fluffy – heart your words.
Hi Robin! I, like everyone else, am grateful for your post. Thank you for reminding me of the power of the Word and how God uses them to sustain us when we’re doubting him.
The verse that has become my life verse is Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.”
It reminds me that no matter how often I mess up, I have been called to freedom. I continue to strive for it, knowing that Jesus is right alongside me, helping me and encouraging me.
Thank you. THANK YOU for writing this. I have questioned too… and that same verse has been a lifeline for me.
All I can offer is a humble thank you. This verse you have offered me, and the others offered in comments resonate so loudly in my heart. Thank you.
Robin, thank you so much for this comforting post; it pierced my heart and broke it for my fellow sister’s living in doubt.
In my doubtful times, I cling to John 14:16
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” He’s right there for us-we just have to reach out to him—Pray until we feel his presence.
Praying over all you ladies who comment. xo
A few years back when I struggled with the same doubts about my salvation God whispered, “go look and see what I say in Isaiah 43:1.”
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Isreal;
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are mine.
This is His promise to me. In the name of Jesus cast those lies aside. Claim this verse and have comfort that you are His.
oh wow, what a promise…oh thank you thank you thank you Marueen 🙂
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