Why doubt? Part 2
Why doubt? Part 2
1 Kings 18:21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
Extra Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-46.
Elijah, the prophet of God, asked the people of Israel on Mount Carmel why do they waver between two opinions, and that they must make one choice. They were doubting. When you doubt you are drawn in two opposite directions at the same time; you experience contradictory emotions. In the case of Israel this was to worship both Jahweh and Baal; in the case of Peter, the disciple of Jesus Christ, learning to walk on water, he was simultaneously experiencing feelings of “‘yes’ I can do it” and “‘no’ maybe I will fail to reach Jesus.” I have discovered that the reason why Christians have a problem with handling doubt is that they often experience a deep sense that doubt is wrong, and even sinful. And many people suppress their fears and questions, and this stunt their growth and progress. One Christian friend sent me a chant he repeats to himself when doubt attacks him, ‘Believe in God’, ‘Stop doubting’, ‘Act in faith’. He told me that it helps him a great deal to keep doubt away.
The question I did not ask my friend was whether he stops to check whether he makes progress in this area and does not falter. Today write down your doubts on a piece of paper and pray them away to God. I learn there are different types of doubt. Superficial doubts relate to, for instance, indecision about what to wear or where to go for summer holiday. On a deeper level doubts concern how you spend your time or money. It becomes more complicated when you struggle with doubts about whom you can trust as a business partner, friend, and ultimately, as a life-partner. The deepest level of doubt concerns the very meaning of existence-does life make meaning? Is there something sustaining it all? There are many causes for doubt. Some are not remembering, a wrong image of God, lack of knowledge, lack of commitment, lack of nourishment, result of stress or strain, and result of trauma. God is challenging us to bring all our questions about doubt at Him without fear of rejection. Just look at how Jesus treated people. No one was rejected by him with, ‘You can’t ask that!’ God exists to deal with our doubts. Take all of them to Him.
Prayer: Father God, I depend on you to help me deal with my doubts. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Rev. Samuel N. Modise 
