God's affirmation when I doubt

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
Luke 7:11-35
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 11:29-31

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 7:28 "I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Have you ever had some doubts about your faith? I mean some serious doubts? Like, does God really exist? Or, does trusting Jesus really save me? Or, is the Bible really trustworthy?

Sometimes, if we have these doubts, we may keep them securely tucked away in the corners of our mind. We wouldn't dare let others know. Why? Because "good Christians" don't ever have such doubts ... or so we think.

In Luke 7, we read that John the Baptist sent word by way of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was truly the Messiah. In Matthew 11:2-3, we come to understand that this happened while he was in prison.

"Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'" (Matthew 11:2-3)

So, John has been imprisoned. He had previously been telling people that the Messiah was coming and that Jesus was the Messiah. And like in Matthew, we read in Luke 7 that he's having some serious doubts.

We might not be surprised if Jesus responded by saying something like, "Oh, you of little faith." Or, "How in the world can you doubt Me when you were recently telling others that I was "the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world"?

But, Jesus doesn't do that. He knows that John is discouraged and confused as he sits in a prison cell. He's wanting confirmation that his beliefs are not misplaced. And he brings his questions to Jesus.

What does Jesus do? He reminds John the Baptist of who He is and what He has done (Luke 7:21-23). This evidence would bolster John's faith.

Further, as John's disciples were leaving to bring these words back to their imprisoned teacher, Jesus lavished praise on John the Baptist, probably so that the disciples of John could hear these words and encourage their teacher (Luke 7:24-28).

"I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John..." (Luke 7:28)

This is an important truth, friend. Are you going to have doubts from time to time? Sure. But, an even more important question is, 'What does God think of our doubts if we are genuinely on a pursuit of truth?'

All we need do is look at how Jesus responded to the doubting, discouraged John the Baptist. Jesus didn't rebuke him. Instead, He provided him with some answers and evidence and then He encouraged him.

Friend, don't ever let Satan cause you to wallow in defeat when you struggle with some aspect of your faith. He would love for nothing more than to convince you that you have disappointed your God. Nothing could be further from the truth! God will compassionately meet you where you are at and help you during that time. 

I think we really need to reflect on how much our God loves us even when we don't feel lovable!

A cure for discouragement

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Leviticus 20:22-22:16 
Mark 9:1-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 43:5 "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I suspect that virtually every person alive has experienced discouragement at least once in their life. Most of us have experienced it many, many more times than that.

In our verse for the day, we see the Psalmist's remedy. He said he, as an act of his will, would put his hope in God. He also said that he, as an act of his will, would praise the Lord.

First, it was an act of his will. He said, "I will..." Oftentimes, when we are discouraged, we lack the strength or will-power to get out of that valley. So, we settle into it. But, if we are to get out of the valley onto the mountaintop, it takes action on our parts. We must ask God for the strength and then act in faith.

Second, the Psalmist put his "hope in God." Hope is essential to mental well-being. When we come to the end of our hope, we come to the end of our rope. But, someone who is saturated with hope is naturally happy and positive. The Psalmist rested in the fact that God was in charge. He trusted the Lord in the situation knowing that what was transpiring had to get through God's hands before it got to him. He also knew that God was going to work something good out of it. So, hope grew.

Finally, the Psalmist said that he would "praise him again." He was going to focus on God's attributes and celebrate them. He was going to focus on things like God's love, God's power, God's infinite wisdom, God's holiness and so much more. As He focused on the wonderful attributes of God and praised Him for them, the Psalmist's heart would naturally lift out of the valley of discouragement to the mountaintop of joy.

Do you battle with discouragement? Why not try the Psalmist's remedy today.