Yesterday, we spoke about hope. I suppose in all fairness we at least need to have a conversation about doubt today.
Doubt is a biggie. Sometimes we call it dark nights of the soul.
Sometimes we just sense that God left and we struggle to understand why. Sometimes, tragedies happen in life and they can leave us hopeless.
Sometimes, doubt comes in waves or seasons. And, at times our season may seem to never end.
We can be prone to call God the Great Silent One! Furthermore, no one is immune to doubt.
Perhaps the greatest example of doubt came from Jesus! Ya’ll remember that verse of Scripture so well that you can recite it by heart:
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”–which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46 NIV)?”
As I said, no one is immune to this affliction.
OK, so what do we do with doubt?
Well, a fellow much smarter than I am, by the name of Paul Tillich had some pretty good ideas in his book, Dynamics of Faith.
First of all, if we’re wrestling with a dark night of the soul, the fact that we are wrestling is a very good thing. It indicates that we are focused upon our Ultimate Concern (God).
Second, doubt actually increases faith as we work out the kinks. It is in the process that greater faith is produced.
People say all the time, “If you don’t feel close to God, who moved?” But try to tell that one to Mother Teresa!
Of all people, you’d think that her faith would be as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. But the truth is the Rock of Gibraltar is not rock, but chalk and it’s not all that solid.
And, there were seasons when even Mother Teresa was not all that solid either.
Smart people tried to tell her what to do. She was told that it was a good sign that she still craved for God so, it must mean that God was still present.
Even so, she suffered mercilessly but just decided to hold on to God in the darkness anyway. Eventually, dawn came as it always does.
Now back to Tillich, he more or less indicated that maybe God has a purpose, even in doubt. Maybe Mother Teresa’s greatest gift to the world was her witness as she overcame it.
I think that our core problem is not unbelief. It is saying that we believe but still keep unchanged hearts.
If this is not so then you tell me why so many people claim they believe but produce little if any fruit?
Is it possible that what God really wants for people is not so much believing God is there, but having changed lives because of it? I have an example.
Every Sunday morning when I am driving to church, there is a speed trap on Huntersville-Concord Road. Yes, a speed trap on Sunday morning!
Why on earth they do that, I will never know. Wouldn’t you think a speed trap would be more effective on Friday afternoon when everybody is flying home from work?
You can’t make this stuff up!
So, what do I do? Well every Sunday morning, I slow down.
Why? Because I believe I will get a ticket if I do not. I actually have faith I will get a ticket if I do not slow down…on Sunday morning!
But, and it’s a big one…my heart still wants to speed. After all, what other reason did Dodge have for building a hemi engine?
My heart has not changed. I am simply managing pain avoidance! If my heart was changed, I would not speed, cop or no cop.
God wants to help us build new hearts for regeneration and wholeness. God wants this to be our choice because the reward awaiting us is a higher path and a more excellent way.
And, I kind of agree with Paul Tillich…I am not sure I will get there without a few seasons of darkness.
Stay the course. Wrestle. Hold God’s hand, even in darkness. Mother Teresa is now sainted. Jesus walked out of that tomb.