Good Morning!

I hope you had a lovely and restful weekend!

In my wanderings this weekend, I came across several people who were on the precipice of a breakthrough but tormented by doubt. Each one struggled with damaged self-esteem, a few felt the additional burden of unworthiness, and others expressed thoughts of hopelessness. Anxieties caused by this current season are wreaking havoc on our abilities to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We talked last week about where to begin a journey, the starting point. This week, let’s look at ways to align with hope and faith to eliminate feelings of doubt that cause conflict and confusion. Let’s explore how to stay the course.

A suitable place to start is a review of the following thoughts:

Having faith enough in God to doubt your doubts and stay on the course you have been given. | Faith, Leap of faith, This or that questions

These thoughts encapsulate the juxtaposition of doubt versus faith. We can reference the word faith with spirituality and a belief in provision from the Lord. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to equate the word with systems, perspectives, and processes that enhance our experiences in self-discipline and growth. Faith allows space for the unknown or abstract to inform our choices and decisions for a favorable outcome.

The definition of doubt is “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.” Doubt creates an experience of fluctuation, scattered thoughts, unsettledness, and the inability to choose. Scripture notes in James 1:6:

“When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea.” (GW)

And, in The Message translation:

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”

Doubt authors chaos, sees the obstacles, flounders in the darkness, fear, and unbelief. It smothers and suffocates our desire to find peace and resolution. Faith, however, provides stability, lights the way through the darkness, and may even avoid the challenges altogether by flying higher on the wings of belief. Doubt delays while faith escalates our abilities to overcome trials.

Some practical applications for our respective journeys are to faithfully utilize inherent and learned self-acceptance skills, practice affirmations and truly believe in their efficacy, and align with the notion that we are capable and courageous enough to rise above adversity. We can shift our perspectives to be more tolerant of our shortcomings, to work diligently to improve our knowledge of negative defaults and replace them with new, encouraging narratives, and raise our levels of belief in our spiritual nature and self-worth. These tools will significantly enhance our experiences and provide new avenues of growth.

Let’ make this the week that we successfully change our mindsets and worldviews to replace doubt with faith!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda