The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6b
I was at the Jersey shore this weekend watching surfers navigate the rough waters of hurricane Hermine. There were two challenges the surfers faced. First they had to paddle through a very strong current and battle past the waves. Then they were rewarded with the challenge of riding one back in without wiping out. As I watched surfers get flipped upside down, trapped under crashing waves and tossed in every direction, I was reminded of this verse. Doubt can be as devastating as hurricane force winds! You know the scenario; you’re cruising through life like a surfer riding a 12 foot wave, then something happens that rocks your faith, you begin to doubt and the next thing you know, you’re being driven along by a force far greater than you can control.
Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:8
The instability that follows doubt steals our peace and renders many sleepless nights. When we waver in our faith we experience a spiritual instability that makes it very hard for us to move forward in our relationship with God. We begin to relate to Peter. One minute we’re walking on water, the next, we’re drowning in the surf. Like Peter, we can almost hear Jesus say, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
So what’s the answer? How do we build our faith so we will have the strength it takes to make through the strong currents of life without getting wiped out?
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV
Could it really be that simple? Yes! Fill your mind with the word of God. Read it, study it, think about it, memorize it, talk about it with other believers, let it sink into your mind and change the way you think. As you do, it will build your faith and make you strong! The word of God is powerful!
Where are you on your spiritual journey? Maybe doubt has kept you from even starting a personal relationship with God. If so, start reading the Bible and don’t stop until your questions are answered and your doubt is gone. Or maybe you started a relationship with God, but never really followed through so it hasn’t made the difference in your life that you hoped it would. If that’s the case, go all in! Dive into the word of God, watch it build your faith and change your life! You might even be a strong believer, grounded in the word, but struggling through a situation that’s rocking your faith. Stay in the word! Read it more than you usually do. Keep it in the forefront of your mind. Revisit those verses that you treasure on a daily basis. Satan wants your faith to fail. He wants you to be tossed about, with no stable footing. The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, is your greatest weapon!
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 NIV