In the midst of pain, suffering, or confusion, it’s natural to the human condition to doubt God. Some doubt His existence, others doubt His goodness.
In some Christian circles, doubt is viewed has a betraying sin. When finding out about your doubt they respond with reasoning like, “How can you doubt God exists? Haven’t you seen intricacy of the stars and the galaxy? Or, “Can’t you see how good God has been to you? You have air to breathe and a roof over your head.”
Are their statements true? Absolutely. But is your doubt really that unreasonable? Not at all.
The Bible is busting out the seams with people who have experienced the power and presence of God, first hand, and are still inclined to doubt.
David, doubted God’s compassion on his situation. (Psalm 13:1, 79:6-10)
Sarah, doubted God’s promise of bearing a child. (Genesis 18:12)
Moses, doubted God’s ability to use him. (Exodus 4:10-13)
Thomas, the infamous, doubted Jesus was who he said he was. (John 20:24-29)
And those are just a few!
But while these giants of faith doubted God, just like you and I sometimes do, they still continued to worship Him despite their unbelief. When their emotions and circumstances clouded their vision, they leaned on truth that had authority. When they couldn’t feel or see the presence of God in their lives, they worshipped Him anyways.
It’s this reality that makes me so grateful for songwriters and worship leaders like Kari Jobe. Her chart-topping song, You Are For Me, puts to music what our hearts so desperately need to cry when in this hazy path of doubt.
“So faithful / So constant / So loving and so true / so powerful in all You do / You fill me / You see me / You know my every move / You love for me to sing to You // I know that You are for me / I know that You are for me / I know that You will never forsake me in my weaknesses / I know that You have come now / Even if to write upon my heart / To remind me who You are.” - You Are For Me, Kari Jobe
Though we can’t see Him, His faithfulness to His people, throughout the generations, holds fast. God has never be unfaithful to His people, and He’s not going to start with you or me. Because of this, we can know that God is for us. He is for seeing us persevere. He is for seeing us grow. He is for seeing us bring peace and healing to this world. He is for seeing us molded and fashioned into a generation that brings revival among our people.
And when we feel forsaken, when we feel abandoned, He is present even more.
Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. Psalm 56:8-9
Publication date: March 15, 2014