Skip to main content

The Best

 


But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)

“We fear bad things, but we doubt good things.” (C.E. White, Trusting God When You’re Struggling, p. 24)

I’m not sure that C.E. White is accurate in her description, but as I read what she had to say about doubt this morning, I highlighted this quote. I like the sense of clarity it provides if it’s true. What it also tells me is that more than fear, doubt is the opposite of hope. Fear is definitely a sibling of doubt. Maybe doubt is the caterpillar and fear the butterfly.

As I consider fear and doubt, it seems to me that I am a doubter. I struggle with job hunting because I’m convinced that no one would hire me for the sort of job I want to do. I tend to think that God can’t trust me with blessings because I’ll misuse or ruin them.

Another story of my life comes to mind. I refused to wear a cross or put a “fish” on my vehicle because if anyone saw me driving even 1 mph over the speed limit for even a minute, I would dishonor God. One day, God asked me if I thought Him so weak that He couldn’t survive the humiliation I might bring Him. After that, He told me to find a cross and wear it.

I find myself wondering whether this doubt is the same idea. If I doubt, and therefore don’t seek, both He and I are protected from the embarrassment of my trusting Him for something He can’t trust me with. Just like the cross necklace, I need to take the chance on that embarrassment. So, the question is, “What is the best that can happen?

1)    I could find a job that I love. 2) I could get Soul Fire back and find no new  errors. 3) I could revise 7 scenes of Word Fire. 4) Earth Fire could make it to the shelves of 5 libraries and be read. 5) Someone's life might be changed by something I wrote. 6) My garden could grow. 7) Eta might do no damage to Florida. 8) The place where I live could remain COVID-19 free. 9) I could lose 2-3 pounds. 10) I could exercise every day and feel stronger.

What’s the best that could happen in your life?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more