Articles
Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is a plague of man. I may be wrong, but I do not think there is a person who at some point in their life struggles with self-doubt. Also, I think it is one of Satan’s best tools to use against those who strive to be godly in their lives. If Satan can get us so focused on ourselves and our own deficiencies so that we take our eyes off the Lord, he has accomplished what he wanted. He has us distracted.
Consider, if I am living sin and that is producing my self-doubt, then I can do something about that. There is no need to continue in that way of life. The Lord provides a way for me to be saved initially and maintain my salvation throughout life (Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:5-2:2). I don’t have to live with the misery of not knowing. I can know. God provided mercy, grace and love for me. It is not in our own selves that we trust, but in Him and His power to work effectively in my life. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all I think or ask (Eph. 3:20). So stop living with the doubt. God is willing to save to the uttermost.
Further, sometimes self-doubt is due to failures we have experienced in life. How many of us have a picture of how we wanted our lives to go but then reality slaps us in the face? We stumble, fall, and make a mess of things. Our judgment is not always good. Our decisions are not always the best. We are inexperienced in life and lack wisdom to avoid the pitfalls. We began with such confidence but, beat down after beat down, we begin to doubt ourselves. As hard as it may be to admit, those very failures are part of what helps us grow and mature. The trying of our faith brings forth patience, which produces a mature man (Jas. 1:2-4). Abraham failed, but he became the father of the faithful. David failed, but was a man after God’s own heart. Saul of Tarsus failed, but became the mighty apostle Paul. Peter failed, but became the rock. Failure is not easy to deal with, but we all fail. It is not “if” we fail, but what we do when we fail. Do we allow it to defeat us or make us strong? We will fail, but we can also rise above it. God is our ally. He will not let anything separate us from His love. He has made us to be conquerors (Rom. 8:28-39).
Then, sometimes, aging produces self-doubt. The strength we once possessed. The confidence in our step. The vigor of youth that enabled one to be strong. But with age come vulnerabilities. Those vulnerabilities expose our frailties. Age brings us close to the closing of the shadows. Am I prepared? We begin to ask, "what about…?" No! Don’t go there. Age is the time of life when the goal that we have longed hoped is closer to becoming reality. Age and spiritual maturity help us see more clearly what youth, lust, and troubles blinded us to. It helps us see that this world is indeed passing away because I am passing away. But our confidence, faith, hope, and strength is not in ourselves but in the mercy and safety of the everlasting arms of God. It is then we realize more than ever, it has been Him who has been carrying us all along. He will not leave us alone, but will carry us to the arms of the Father. Aging is not the time for self-doubt but for blessed assurance. Heaven really is just a breath away.
There are many other things we could add: health issues, catastrophic diagnosis, disappointment in others, loss of loved ones, loss of a child spiritually. Any number of things can cause us to doubt ourselves.
Self-doubt is draining. It is damaging. As Christians, our confidence is not in ourselves but in our Lord (1 Cor. 1:26-31). We have a loving Father who will not lie. He will carry us through. Do not leave Him. He will never forsake us (Heb. 3:5-6).
Rickie
