By LESLIE LUDY
It’s amazing how tempting it can be to run anywhere but to God’s Word whenever we are struggling with doubt and confusion. We often think we’ll find comfort and perspective in the words and ideas of our fellow humans instead of in the eternal Word of God. But human thoughts and ideas are only beneficial if they are in harmony with the timeless truth of Scripture. All other ideas, notions, concepts, and suggestions are worthless.
For many years of my life, whenever I walked through a crisis or difficulty, it would plunge me into depression, doubt, or blurriness. Spiritually speaking, I couldn’t see which end was up. I felt like I was standing on unstable sandy ground. I began to question God’s love for me and wallow in confusion. Trials seemed to only drive me further away from Him and make me feel uncertain about certain aspects of my Christian faith. I would try to “process” through my confusion with others or seek advice through various self-help books or counseling. And though I sometimes received a good suggestion here or there, I never found the unshakable clarity I was craving.
But then God awakened Eric and I to a principle which has completely altered the way we respond to difficulties … learning to stand firmly upon the Rock of Truth. Now, whenever we are hit with confusion, uncertainty, or difficulties, we’ve learned to immediately search the Word of God for answers. And when we find them, we reckon them as fact, no matter what our current feelings, past experiences, or present circumstances may say.
For example, there have been times when we’ve been falsely accused and threatened by people we once trusted. In those times, the emotions of fear (what if they act upon their threats?), doubt (if they hate me so much, does God still love me?), and confusion (why would God allow this to happen?) are extremely loud. But we have become confident in the fact that we will gain clear, Heavenly perspective by taking time to deliberately put “rock beneath our feet” by standing on the Truth of God’s Word.
To answer the fearful question “what if they act upon their threats?” we remember the promises of God’s protection in Scripture such as “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” and “you will surround the righteous with favor as with a shield” (Isa. 54:17a; Ps. 5:12). The more the voice of fear seeks to distract us, the more we meditate upon the reality that we are under the shadow of His wings. And soon, our fear is replaced with peace.
To answer the question, “if they hate me, does God still love me?” we remember that false accusation for Christ’s sake is actually an honor and a cause for rejoicing. (See Luke 6:22-23.) And even though we may be tempted to doubt God’s love for us when false accusation comes our way, we choose to stand upon the fact that His Word says the opposite. And soon, our doubt is replaced with faith.
To answer the question, “how could God allow this to happen?” we remember promises such as “all things work together for good…” (Rom. 8:28) and “what the enemy means for evil, God will turn to good” (Gen. 50:20). We begin to stand firm upon the reality that God will turn everything that the enemy means to harm us into something that will bless and benefit us, even if we can’t see the end of the story right away. And soon, our confusion is replaced with clear Heavenly perspective.
Time and time again, we have seen our circumstances and our emotions align with the Truth of God’s Word as we simply choose to agree with what God said. But we have learned that we cannot wait for our feelings to agree with Scripture before taking it as fact. Rather, we accept God’s Truth as fact and command our feelings to agree with it.
By applying this principle for many years, Eric and I are no longer like infants being “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14). Confusion is gone, and clarity reigns in our hearts and minds. Why? Because we have rock beneath our feet.
If you can learn to stand upon the solid rock of God’s Word in every situation you face, you will not be vulnerable to the crafty distortion of Truth so common today. When you are exposed to human ideas that do not agree with Scripture, you will be much quicker to recognize and renounce them in your soul. And when the enemy tries to bait you with confusion, doubt, or despair, you will have a means to finding the clarity and heavenly perspective you need.
Wallowing in doubt, confusion, and uncertainty is hip and trendy in modern Christianity. Some churches even host what they call “Doubt Nights” – where everyone gets together and vents their doubts about God and His Word. Confusion is celebrated today. But what a miserable way to live! Why would you choose to look at a distorted view of a sunset through a filthy window when you could look through a sparkling clean one instead and see it in all its breathtaking beauty?
If you are being blown here and there by every wind of teaching and overwhelmed by your own doubt and confusion, God is ready to plant your feet firmly upon the solid, immovable Rock – which is Jesus Christ Himself. He is willing to replace your confusion for glorious clarity – if you are willing to take Him at His Word.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19