How do I stop doubting? (in prayer, or regarding the Gospel)
- By Richard T
- The Kitchen Sink
- 3 Replies
While I love Mark 11:23, the way it works is you have to hear from God to have that kind of faith. You can pray for faith but "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God. The word there is spoken word or rhema. Now I always say that God wants to talk to us more than we want to listen. Sometimes we just let ourselves got in the way. To me, the things that may help you, is to continue in humility, asking God to speak to you. Find yourself some Christian praise music, or even an older hymn that you can entreat God with.I've studied for decades, and read all of the Bible multiple times, continue reading the Bible daily, and now I'm praying in accordance with Mark 11:24, Jesus telling us to 'believe that you have already received it'. Yet though I will to do this, thoughts occur in my brain involuntarily such as,
Although I try repudiating these thoughts as demons whispering to me, by recalling Sacred Scripture, by engaging in logcal argument, by prayer for the demons to be banished from me, and continue asking God to give me more faith and unwavering faith, the thoughts continue, and it appears to me I genuinely believe them - that when I die everything will be over, life done - because I am discouraged, downhearted, depressed, sad, rather than excited about being healed soon, rather than be happy that God is bringing about a greater good every moment I'm not healed, rather than be content knowing no matter what happens God will make it right.
- "You're just engaging in wishful thinking."
- "This probably isn't going to happen."
- "Your experience and observations of the world are better explained by atheism."
- "Your petitions haven't been granted because God wants you to be 'Eastern Orthodox', or Mohammedan, or some other religion."
What do you think? Is there some way to stop doubting? to be finally convinced the Gospel is true?
As you seem to be stuck, confess all the doubts, all the religious thinking about various versions of Christianity and just get real with God, letting him know that you give your life to Him, that you do believe the bible is true and that you want to experience His fellowship and love. Sort of like starting with a blank canvas in your expectation to God with only the word of God as your protection from errant doctrines. The scripture below I think speaks to this, that we have to empty ourselves, become more child-like and see God in the purest and simplest form.
It would be good to seek God in a church too. When I was at my lowest point, someone told me a church where the power of God was real. I was skeptical but I grown up in a church where there was not even talk of God's power. What I received was different than what I expected. I saw real love and joy in the church people. Super genuine and not fake like I have seen so much of before. It only took a few services that I was singing the song "I exalt thee" and it was as if something just lifted off me. I could not wait to get to the altar so I set there squirming until the preaching was over. The power often missed is the church that can actually be so sensitive to God that they hear him, follow him and create an atmosphere where our hearts can connect to him. I am not talking about some New age garbage but the real God of the bible who really is heart to heart, connected to solid Christians that really worship him in spirit and truth.
I do believe you really are going to find God speaking to you, giving you the faith you so desperately seek. God bless you always!
1 Corinthians 1:26-27, which says, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty".
Upvote
0