Face your doubts instead of hiding them under the surface

Do you face your doubts, or do you try to ignore them, hoping they'll somehow go away on their own?

We singles are natural doubters, but married people have misgivings about things too. Many Christians are ashamed of their doubts, believing they show disloyalty to Jesus.

Except Jesus isn't petty. He understands the human tendency to doubt, because he was tempted with it in the Garden of Gethsemane, before his crucifixion, and when God abandoned him on the cross.

We don't talk much about Satan at inspiration-for-singles.com, but we know that he does exist, because Jesus warned us about him. Doubt is just one of the many tools Satan throws at us to try to pull us away from what we know in our heart to be true.

An unquestioning faith is a fearful faith

Some Christian denominations teach that you should never ask questions, that you shouldn't deal with uncertainties about your faith out in the open. In fact, they think you shouldn't have any doubts in the first place!

It's a simple equation, however. The truth can stand up to questioning, and Jesus said,

"I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6)

Jesus, who embodies truth, can stand up to questions and doubts. He is not offended by them.

The skunk in the ballroom

When you face your doubts, it's like admitting that a skunk just walked through the ballroom. It's too obvious to ignore, acting as if nothing's wrong. Besides, God already knows about your doubts anyway.

Most of the time, God's not going to swoop down, solve all your problems, and give you a happily-ever-after life.

When we don't see instant solutions, that doesn't mean God isn't working behind the scenes. His timing is not our timing, and that can make us feel anxious. We learn to trust him, however, by recalling how he helped us in the past.

You face your doubts--then what?

So what will happen when you face your doubts? Often, you'll see your doubts in a different light, as less threatening and even acceptable. The Holy Spirit may assure you that you're not a bad person for having doubts.

You'll enter into a more mature, more realistic relationship with Jesus. You'll understand that he doesn't condemn you for having doubts, just as he did not condemn John the Baptist or his apostle Thomas.

A sense of relief will come over you when there is no punishment or chastisement. Christ's love and acceptance of you, in spite of your shortcomings, is an astounding feeling. You'll wish you had done this sooner.

So face your doubts today. Come clean. Be honest. Lay them all out before Jesus. It's one of the wisest acts you'll ever do as a Christian.

Single & Sure deals with doubts in depth

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It's no exaggeration to say Single & Sure took 40 years to write, because that's how much experience I packed into it. Why go through the same problems I did, when you can easily avoid them? Why wonder what to do when your guide can tell you what works and what doesn't, based on real-world experience?

This is the most encouraging, most useful book you'll read all year. Find out details about Single & Sure...

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