Week One Part 2 - Day Three: End of Day

The most fundamental misconception concerning doubt is that doubt is the opposite of faith. Listen to what Os Guiness says about this idea:

“In virtually equating doubt and unbelief those who hold this misconception make doubt the opposite of faith in a way that is true neither to the Bible nor to what we know of human knowledge. To insist that only doubt-free faith can be counted as genuine faith is to misunderstand what knowledge and faith are. The perfectionism in the demand is more destructive of genuine faith than the worst of doubts could ever be.” ¹

Mark 9 recounts the story of a man who brought his son to Jesus. The boy is suffering from something that sounds like advanced, untreated epilepsy. He believes the boy is possessed and asks Jesus to heal him. “But if you can do anything take pity on us and help us,” he pleads.

“If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.” Jesus answered.

Then the boy’s father amazes us with his reply: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” And in that reply he condemns his own doubt as unbelief.

Fortunately, Jesus disagrees. Jesus never responds to unbelief, but by healing the boy he showed the father and us that this is really doubt and it should not be thought of as unbelief or dealt with as unbelief.

1. Survey your day today. Were there times of impatience, worry or blatant doubt today? Register those feelings and thoughts with God. Ask Him to forgive you.
2. Read Psalm 42 as a day ending exercise. Look for some verse or some phrase to catch your attention. Linger over it for a moment.
3. End your day by praying this: “Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.”
4. Lights out!