No Doubt About It

There are seasons when good intentions quietly unravel, when the goals we set with hope and confidence begin to feel heavier than inspiring. We don’t always notice when it happens—only that somewhere along the way, resolve thins and uncertainty takes its place.

Maybe you’ve felt it too. That subtle inner hesitation that asks, What if I can’t? What if I’m not enough? Doubt doesn’t usually shout—it whispers. And sometimes those whispers are enough to stall a dream, silence a calling, or convince us to settle for less than what once stirred our hearts.

The following reflection is lifted from the pages of my book, Art and Soul. It is a reflection on doubt—how quietly it enters, how powerfully it holds us, and how faith invites us to loosen its grip.

No Doubt About It

Past doubts have kept me from my paintbrushes and my pen. Doubt, in a matter of minutes, can slip silently through the back door of my mind and hold me captive for days until all hope is drained, leaving me paralyzed on the cold kitchen floor of indecision.

Doubt is a word that, when accepted, gets many people, like me, into trouble. Uncertainty can lead quickly to despair.

“I doubt that”

“I have my doubts.”

“I doubt I can do it.”

“I doubt that will happen.”

“I doubt I could “

“I doubt I’ll get well.”

“I doubt he loves me.”

“I doubt I can achieve that dream.”

“I doubt it. I doubt.”

Doubt is a trouble maker. It puts the weight of responsibility on yourself instead of seeing what God can do. When we doubt ourselves, in essence we are doubting what God can do. Doubts bring us to a standstill, stop production, damage dreams, strip us of our hopes, and keep ideas locked away. Doubts can be life-changing if taken too seriously. Doubts can make us question our abilities, our God, and those we love. Uncertainty restrains us from full potential, achieving goals, or living our out our dreams.

Doubts keep us from imagining what could be and hold us back from relationships, job opportunities, adventure, or education. Doubts keep us stagnant. Uncertainty can create loneliness and isolation.

If I hover behind the fear of failure or an obstacle of doubt that I perceive is too great to move beyond, progress stops abruptly. I use that doubt as an excuse to remain where I am.

With this attitude, no success can emerge. I remain frozen, unable to act on my purpose, my intentions, my dreams. I believe writing and painting are my calling, but I notice that doubt stands boldly before me declaring me unfit:  “Not Good Enough!” it shouts, and I listen.

The disciple, Thomas, doubted that Christ had risen from the dead and wanted proof to believe. When the disciples told him “We have seen the Lord!“, Thomas said of Jesus, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.“

He had his doubts, and he decided to keep them unless he had proof and saw Jesus for himself.

Jesus arrived a week later in a locked room,  and said: “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it on my side. Stop doubting and believe”.

Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!“. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.“

Thomas eventually believed but maybe missed a blessing. It makes me wonder what doubts hold me hostage until I see proof? Do I  need proof to determine whether I believe? Do doubts keep me from moving forward with my goals? Does uncertainty keep me from being in a trusting, loving relationship with my spouse?

I guess I’m coming to the conclusion that “doubt“ isn’t instigated by God. He says, believe in Him without  ”seeing”, without proof, and you will be blessed. It takes faith to believe.

I doubt it! —I believe it!

I doubt I can! —I believe I can!

I doubt!—I believe!

What a difference one word can make in the way a day turns out, the way a year turns out, the way life turns out.

Believe versus doubt. God says, stop doubting and believe. So I’m choosing to believe.

I can’t see what the future holds, but I  want to live into my future without suspicion holding me back from believing in the possibilities or the wonderment of what could be and the firm belief in my God whether or not I see proof. I believe, no doubt about it!

Afterthought:

Doubt will always be whispering but it doesn’t have to lead. What might open in our lives if we trusted God‘s voice over the one that tells us to stop.

“The secret to abundant life: to believe that God is where you doubt He can be.”

Ann Voskamp