Believe God: Overcome Doubt and Rebuild Faith
From the message “Believe God” by Elijah Mayanja (Broadcast Pastor) on January 7th, 2024
When was the last time you seriously doubted God?
Maybe it was after facing a loss, maybe it was after a high point of faith ended in disappointment, or maybe it’s right now because you’re still waiting on an answer to prayer.
These moments can be challenging, but they also give us a choice: will we choose faith or give in to unbelief? Whatever you face, you can overcome unbelief and restore your faith.
Abram and Sarai’s Doubt
The Bible is filled with people who wrestled with doubt and unbelief. Genesis 15 and 16 show us how Abram and Sarai (later renamed Abraham and Sarah) dealt with this in their lives.
The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." However, Abram responded with a human concern - the lack of an heir. The unfolding dialogue between Abram and the Lord reveals the tension between divine promises and human doubts:
Divine Promise: The Lord reassured Abram, emphasizing divine protection and a reward that transcends human understanding.
Human Concern: Despite the promises, Abram expresses his concern about remaining childless and the potential inheritance going to his servant, Eleazar.
God's Response: God declares that a son from Abram's own flesh and blood will be his heir, using the metaphor of stars to symbolize the multitude of Abram's descendants.
Abram's Response: The pivotal moment came when "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness."
However, in the very next chapter, we witness the unfolding of a different kind of struggle. After 10 long years of waiting for this promise to come true, Sarai, Abram's wife, suggests a culturally accepted solution of using her Egyptian slave, Hagar, as a surrogate. This decision introduces a new layer of belief and unbelief:
A Decade of Waiting: The ten-year period emphasizes the prolonged faith-testing period.
Cultural Pressures: Sarai's suggestion reflects societal expectations regarding children.
Human Effort vs. God's Promise: Opting for a human solution, the characters delve into unbelief rather than trusting God's promise.
As you can imagine, things didn’t go well when they took this course of action. Giving into unbelief has consequences.
Consequences of Unbelief
You may not be facing infertility like Abram and Sarai, but you can probably understand why they chose to take matters into their own hands. How often have you done the same when the answers to your prayers took too long? Whenever that happens, and you give into unbelief, there are consequences.
Consequence 1 - Unbelief Makes Us Question God's Character
Unbelief manifests in doubting God's character, challenging the foundational beliefs that your faith is built on. It will lead you to ask questions like: “Did God really say that?” or “Can I really trust Him?” These are the same questions that gave root to sin in Genesis 3.
This seems especially true when God doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers. This, more than anything, can cause us to start to doubt and give root to unbelief. The reality is that God always answers prayer, He just doesn’t always answer “yes.” Here’s how Jackie Hill Perry put it:
“Remove the lie from your mind that God does not listen, or speak, or act when asked. He is alive at all times. Answering every prayer. Sometimes a "yes." Other times a "no." Many times a "wait." And all three are answers. All three are governed by transcendent wisdom, for our good, always.
Do you trust God’s character, even when He answers your prayer with a “no?”
Consequence 2 - Unbelief Tramples Us
In 2 Kings 7, we read the account of the Syrian siege of Samaria. The situation in the city was so bad that people started to resort to cannibalism. Not a pretty picture.
At the height of this crisis, the prophet Elisha prophesied abundance, but a high-ranking officer responded with skepticism. The consequence was tragic — he was trampled to death at the city gate as soon as the prophecy came true.
Unbelief is perilous and can have tangible consequences. It robs us of our strength, healing, freedom, and peace.
Restore YOUR Faith
The question is: "Will you choose to believe God or give in to unbelief?"
There is a crucial difference between believing in God and believing God. You can believe that God is real, that He created the universe, and even believe that Jesus is the savior of the world. At the same time, you can struggle to believe His promises and His character and trust Him with every aspect of your life.
Become a Full-Time Believer
When we only believe part of what God said, we live as part-time believers. this way turns us into part-time believers. When we pick and choose which aspects of God's promises to believe, we miss out on all that God has to offer. It is time to become a full-time believer in everything God declares in His word!
He is worthy to believe! Jackie Hill Perry also said:
“If God is holy, then He can’t sin. And If he can’t sin, Then he can’t sin against me. And if he can’t sin against me, shouldn’t that make him the most trustworthy being?”
A great place to start is Alpha, where you can explore faith in a low-pressure environment.
Surround Yourself With Other Believers
There is something so powerful about the community around us. We become like the people we spend the most time with. We will take on their likes, dislikes, attitudes, speech patterns, and yes, even their faith.
That’s why it is vital that you foster a community of believers around you for mutual strength and support. Spending time with faith-filled people will build your faith and theirs, too. Together, we can help each other through our doubts.
You might consider joining a group where you can build friendships with other Christians.
Make Belief a Declaration
What do you do when you’re alone and unbelief attacks? You can pray over yourself and make a declaration of faith and belief. The words we speak are powerful, so rebuke the doubt you’re feeling and speak words of faith over yourself.
When you do this, you’ll realize that Christ is will you, protecting you and giving you peace. His power is the greatest weapon we have in this fight.
Will You Believe God?
Every time you face a moment of doubt head-on and decide to believe God, you’re building resilience and strength into your future. The temptation to doubt Him will decrease as you build up a memory of all the times He has come through for you.
Believe God!
Here are some verses to help you trust God’s character and restore your faith:
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
— Isaiah 54:10
BELIEVE GOD
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
— Isaiah 41:10
BELIEVE GOD
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
— Jeremiah 29:11-12
BELIEVE GOD
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33
BELIEVE GOD
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
— Isaiah 43:2
BELIEVE GOD
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
— John 14:27
BELIEVE GOD
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.
— Isaiah 54:17
BELIEVE GOD
But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no one cares.’
— Jeremiah 30:17
BELIEVE GOD
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
— Psalm 32:8
BELIEVE GOD