Doubt That Melts Our Faith
Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the Lord. Psalm 26:12 (NLT)
Some time ago, I watched a program about the melting polar ice caps. One of the images that stayed with me was that of a polar bear standing on a thin layer of sea ice surrounded by a vast stretch of sea, leaving it extremely vulnerable. Polar bears rely on the delicate ecosystem of the North Pole region to hunt for food and to mate. The floating pieces of sea ice may look “naked,” but they are home to algae that form the basis of the polar region’s marine ecosystem. Plankton and other tiny sea creatures feed on the algae that are, in turn, fed on by cod. Seals that feed on cod are the main source of food for polar bears. When sea ice is exposed to conditions that cause thinning and melting, the fragile ecosystem is disrupted, threatening the survival of wildlife, including polar bears.
When polar bears go about their daily lives, they expect the sea ice to be there. They expect it to be in the state they are used to finding it. They don’t doubt this. But when their stable habitat changes, they can literally find themselves on thin ice.
The Winds of Doubt
We will also encounter difficult situations in our lives where our certainties seem to have melted like the polar ice. The steady ground beneath us seems to have disappeared. We start to doubt that God is able to intervene in our situation. We doubt that he hears us or sees us. We doubt His care for us. James 1:6 (ESV) says,
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
When we doubt, our loyalty to God shifts. We drift from the safe shores without an anchor. We are tossed to and fro by every wind that catches our sails. We put our hope and faith in people or in things, and not in Jesus, the faithful anchor for our souls. Jesus, the One who has gone before and has entered through the veil into God’s inner sanctuary (Hebrews 6:19), where He intercedes on our behalf before the Father (Romans 8:34)
God is not deaf. He is not silent. He hears our prayers. He speaks to us. When we come to Him and ask in faith, He will graciously intervene in our places of doubt and despair. He will gently lead us from the thin ice of doubt and place our feet on solid ground, making our steps safe and secure (Psalm 40:2). Let us ask in faith, believing, not wavering in our trust in our all-powerful, miracle-working God.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. Psalm 40:2 (NLT)
Reflection:
Are you doubting whether God hears your prayer or cares about your situation? Confess this to Him. He will take away your doubt and help you to trust Him
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, You see my doubts. I give them to You. Help me to trust that You hear me and see me. Lord, place my feet on the solid ground of Your Word so that I may be unwavering in my faith in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
