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How to Deal with Doubt: Difference between revisions
→The inevitability of doubt
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So how do you think you’re going to do? | So how do you think you’re going to do? | ||
Probably, you’re never going to get past it. That means there will always be to some level of doubt in anyone’s life. There has to be. Doubt, in a sense, is a problem that never goes away. It is an inevitable thing, but look at this incredible balance the Bible has here and everywhere. What an incredibly nuanced, balanced view of doubt. | Probably, you’re never going to get past it. '''That means there will always be to some level of doubt in anyone’s life.''' There has to be. Doubt, in a sense, is a problem that never goes away. It is an inevitable thing, but look at this incredible balance the Bible has here and everywhere. What an incredibly nuanced, balanced view of doubt. | ||
In spite of these wonderful revelations twice Abram says, “But how do I know? How can I really trust? How can I know? I’m filled with doubts.” | In spite of these wonderful revelations twice Abram says, ''“But how do I know? How can I really trust? How can I know? I’m filled with doubts.”'' | ||
Does God say, “How dare you question me?” Never, and yet does God say, “Well, that’s the way it is. We all live with doubt and we can’t help it”? No. On the one hand, God does not condemn. On the other hand, he challenges it. He keeps coming after him. There is a remarkable balance. | Does God say, ''“How dare you question me?”'' Never, and yet does God say, ''“Well, that’s the way it is. We all live with doubt and we can’t help it”?'' No. On the one hand, God does not condemn. On the other hand, he challenges it. He keeps coming after him. There is a remarkable balance. | ||
Thomas doubted but Jesus did not condemn him. When you express doubt and say, “My faith is weak,” instead of God saying, “How dare you?” God says, “Here, I will help you to have faith and not doubt.” He says, “Doubters are welcome because honest admission of weakness and difficulty and struggle is the way you become Abrahams.”<ref>Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).</ref> | '''Thomas doubted but Jesus did not condemn him.''' When you express doubt and say, ''“My faith is weak,”'' instead of God saying, ''“How dare you?”'' God says, ''“Here, I will help you to have faith and not doubt.”'' He says, ''“Doubters are welcome because honest admission of weakness and difficulty and struggle is the way you become Abrahams.”''<ref>Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).</ref> | ||
=Is all doubt bad?= | =Is all doubt bad?= | ||