Six: Dealing with Doubts

I want to bring up an issue that is a major killer in our walk with Christ. I say major killer, because many warriors of God have fallen on the battleground from this one enemy attack. When we find that we have stumbled in failure, we then deal with guilt, the would have and could have fault pointing of the enemy of our souls. Many times this is a thought that he sends and we then take it and run, bringing about our ruin.
Understand that the devil and his ways is always opposite of what God is and does. He is always the opposite character of God and His nature. Example: where there is faith…his weapon is doubt… where there is love… his weapon is hate… where there is patience… his weapon is impatience..
Our enemy is known to be the one who “harangued” believers. Meaning that he spills out a long, blustering speech.. That it will be tirade.. That it is vehement and denouncing. He is known as the “accuser of the brethren.”

“…the accuser of the brethren, who accused them before God day and night…”
(Rev. 12:10)

We are told in (Daniel 7:25) that he “wears” out the saints. (Hebrews 11:6) says that the enemy comes to “weary” the saints. Especially in failure, he comes with this weapon to tear down and destroy the foundation which we stand in Christ. Understand that he does not care for you at all, he desires only to stop growth in Christ! He desires only to silence the Holy Spirit from speaking in your life. How is this? Through doubt.
His arrow of doubt has as its feather “impatience” as a guide. We are most very impatient people, we want things “now” not later. His arrow then is shot and the destruction begins. But can be stopped when the believer knows and sees the attack.
Here we will look at some steps he takes when we fail to destroy the work God is and has been working in our lives. With this understanding, stand against the wiles of the devil, step on his head, and in Jesus become an overcomer!
The adversary will raise doubts about areas of our own certainty. He does this to bring about “instability” in our lives. When you are not sure of your certainty, in all honesty, you are no longer a threat to the devil.

His arrow tries to bring doubt about our ability.

He accuses us of being feeble and weak. Now, understand that in your greatest strength, the strength within you, your own strength, you are weak. Your only strength is in Christ! You cannot do it on your own! You need His strength, you need His ability! But notice how the Bible puts this: It says that we are strong in weakness. (see 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, Philippians 3, Nehemiah 8, Isaiah 40).

His arrow tries to bring doubt about our destiny.

The Lord desires us to learn the dimensions of His life so we can realize His destiny in our lives. When we stumble, we “fail” God, this is a major attack area. If the enemy can get you to doubt your destiny, the war is over!

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)

Your destiny is that you are a son or a daughter of God! Note closely, this passage said “gave He power” this means that He gave authority and the ability to become his son, his daughter! This is in His name! and is also in His nature!
This arrow of doubt is meant to cause you to question who you are! If you notice as well, it deals with our ability too!

His arrow tries to bring doubt about Peace.

To disturb our peace brings confusion. If we allow an unleashing of confusion in our lives, this weapon will cause a major tailspin to result, which causes us to fall deep into more failure, thus more destruction.
Possible habitual “cycles” may be the destroyer here. When we find ourselves in a continual cycle of events, our peace is disrupted and we find our live again, in that tailspin we mentioned. Many have no peace because of failure. Life becomes frantic as this is unleashed. Understand, God will keep you in “perfect peace.”

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

When the storm comes and says, “I am this big! I am severe! I come to bring uneasiness! I come to confuse! I come to disrupt!” You must stand up against it and say, “My God is bigger!”
Doubt about your peace, causes you to focus on the doubt rather than keeping your mind on Christ. Remember, Scripture tells us to be “anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6-7). An interesting thing here, “be ANXIOUS…” What is it that causes you to be anxious, restless, uneasy? It says “be anxious for NOTHING..” Usually this is what we are in an uproar about, “nothing.” Here is where that feather of impatience directs and guides the arrow of doubt.

His arrow tries to bring doubt about Timing.

Here is one that is a problem maker. God’s timing. We ask God to help us, we failed Him. We ask Him to help, we even partner with Him in our restoration, allowing Him whatever He needs to do to work in our lives. This arrow then comes because, “God is taking too long.” Hear this! Whatever time it takes, let God have His full and complete way and work in your life! Doubt about timing is a sister to “impatience.” With this it also has “weariness” as a twin.
Ever had to wait? You wait and wait, and it seems like, “will this ever end?” It seems like you want to say, “Look this is a simple thing here, why are we waiting, what is the holdup here?”

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)

“….be not weary in well doing….” (2 Thess. 3:13)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Know the enemy comes to weary the saints, he does this with doubt. He attacks faith! But remember God rewards the steadfast. (Hebrews 11:6).

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

This arrow of doubt, especially doubt in God’s timing causes us to be “without faith.” Know this, the word used here “without” means to be apart from faith, separate from faith. It means to be destitute of faith. If this is the case then we are weak and open and vulnerable to the arrow of doubt. In failure, when we allow this to happen, we find ourselves in a crash and burn potential.
His arrow tries to bring doubt about God’s Completion.
Satan will accuse that God will never finish the work He has begun in you. But we are told in a promise that God bring it to a completion (Phil 1:3-6). Restoration is the desire of the Father. When we fail Him, He says, “I am able to rebuild, will you let Me?” God said He will restore what has been lost.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust have eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm…” (Joel 2:25)

We are to let the Spirit of God fill us and allow Him to continue in the rebuilding process. Allow Him to restore us from our failures.
In closing, perishing is two-fold: 1) it first starts as a crack in our foundation of faith… 2) with the enemy continual attack the cracking becomes bigger cracks, deeper and then finally complete destruction. We have great need to stand up against the enemy of our soul. We have great need to allow God all He needs to do whatever He decides best with our lives. Scripture tells us:

“…my people perish for a lack of knowledge..” (Hosea 4:6)

Please know that success, rebuilding, and restoration are the results of failure, when placed into the hands of our God!