 We all experience days and sometimes moments where we doubt. We sometimes doubt our God given ability to manage stress, and whether or not God’s timing will match up with ours when facing desperate situations. Doubt experienced serves as proof of our humanity. But, here’s the good news, we do not have to surrender to doubt. That’s right; because we may begin our day experiencing doubt does not mean that we have to stay there. In other words, we do not have to wave the white flag; we can rise above the circumstances. The next time you find yourself doubting whether or not the way will be made, a door will be opened, or an enemy will be made your footstool, rise above the circumstances by trusting that faith will see the way.The Good News records the poem of an unknown author that once said, "Doubt sees the obstacles; Faith sees the way, Doubt sees the darkest night, Faith sees the day! Doubt dreads to take a step; Faith soars on high, Doubt questions, "Who believes?" Faith answers, "I!" Copyright (c) Elton L. Young, 2002-2012 'All Rights Reserved'  |
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CategoriesLifeLine with Elton L. Young
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It never ceases to amaze me just how often people either dismiss or question the existence of God. Like doubting Thomas, some people choose not to believe anything that they themselves can not explain, touch, and or see. In fact, some would rather raise questions about how God performs His many works rather than believe by faith. This is exactly where so many begin to ask the wrong question(s). Rather than asking how, it would be much more beneficial to focus attention upon whom. Personally, I’m not concerned about figuring out how God measured the universe, divided the waters from dry land, and separated darkness from daylight. In addition, I don’t waste the time or energy trying to comprehend the flood, Noah’s Ark, and the then cleansing of God’s green earth by the then drowning of humankind. Rather than waste my energy on how, I simply believe. That’s what faith does. “…faithisthesubstanceofthings hoped for, the evidence ofthings not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith always demands confidence in the unseen. That’s the beauty of it all, belief without humanities own display of proof. Humanity does not have to prove anything concerning God, because God proves Himself each and every day. Just take a few minutes to check out your surroundings; there is no doubt you will see God.
Over the past 10 years I have been blessed to conduct many consults and trainings. I must admit that my favorite has always been conflict management-conflict resolution. Believe it or not, there is a difference between whether or not conflict can be managed or completely resolved. The reality is; some conflicts will remain a torn in someone's flesh, as evidenced no resolution. But, that does not mean that the same conflict cannot be managed. If you have been convinced that all conflicts are resolvable, then welcome to the real world because unfortunately they are not. 
When was the last time you thought about how important you are to God? The drama many experience from day to day along with other preoccupations encountered one right after the other, and sometimes all at one time, amazes people that they are able to keep it together long enough to get through the day. As a result, positive affirmations often go wanting allowing negativity to rule the day. Personally, I've found that reading the events surrounding God's creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1 & 2) reassuring. Why? Because those events reminds me of two important facts. Fact one, God makes what I like calling a solemn and formal declaration. Fact two, God shares His own image with humanity. The above facts remind me each time I read chapters one (1) and two (2) of the book of Genesis that I am significant to God and have been blessed to play a role in redemption. 
Someone once said, "It is nothing to worry about if you are misunderstood, but you had better get steamed up if you don't understand." Why is understanding so important, especially when it comes to God's Word? For several reasons. But, just to name one, I must say that a lack of understanding leads to a lack of vision. As the Word says, "where there is no vision, people perish." Therefore, the closer we are to the vision, the better off we are. Let's bring it closer to home. How many times have you struggled with the direction of your life? When was the last time you took time for self-examination and determined that you don't know how you got to where you currently are, and for now, do not have a clue as to how to free your mind and your spirit from such bondage? In one way or another we've all been there, and done that. When I use the words understanding and vision, I use both words from a biblical perspective. Understanding in terms of skill, and vision in terms of purpose. The best way to achieve both is through the study of God's holy Word. That's why I began today's devotion addressing how important it is that we not take it lightly when we don't understand. 
All of this work week we have been led by the Holy Spirit to focus on the topic of faith. What better way to conclude such a topic than be sharing a true story regarding one of the most well known preachers in history (John Wesley). It has been reported that the great preacher John Wesley took a brief walk with a troubled man. During this walk, the troubled man expressed doubt about the goodness of God, as evidenced by saying, "I do not know what I shall do with all this worry and trouble." As the troubled man spoke, he along with John Wesley walked pass a cow looking over a stone wall. "Do you know," asked Wesley, "why that cow is looking over the wall?" "No," said the man who was worried. Wesley said, "The cow is looking over the wall because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble... look over it and avoid it." What a mighty word, and a reminder of our previous devotional regarding the captain's ability to guide his passengers through inclimate weather conditions by being positioned above the fog. As we face today with faith and in victory, let's remember the advise of John Wesley to a troubled man, rather than trying to see through your wall of troubles, trust God to lift your spirit whereby you will be able look over that wall while trusting God to see you through. 
The Sunday Circle shares a story of a vessel steaming along the St. Lawrence River at high speed with passengers. The passengers became very angry with the captain due to the fog that surrounded them, their inability to see, and the high speed the captain maintained. The thicker the fog became, the faster the captain traveled. The passenger’s anger eventually resulted in them confronting the captain’s first mate by complaining about what they described as reckless behavior on the part of the captain. “Oh, don’t be afraid!” the mate replied, with a smile. “The fog lies low, and the captain is high above it, and can see where we are going.” What a profound statement, “the fog lies low, and the captain is high above it, and can see where we are going.” Though the passenger’s visibility was limited as they questioned their own safety and the competence of their captain, they failed to realize that their captain was positioned above their visibility, which empowered him to clearly see their destination and each experience in between. 
The Sunday School Times shares a wonderful story about a mother and her little four-year-old daughter preparing to retire for the night. The child was afraid of the dark, and the mother, on this occasion alone with the child, felt fearful also. When the light was out, the child caught a glimpse of the moon outside the window. "Mother," she asked, "is the moon God's light?" "Yes," said the mother. The next question was, "Will God put out His light and go to sleep?" The mother replied, "No, my child, God never goes to sleep." Then out of a simplicity of a child's faith, she said that which gave reassurance to the fearful mother, "Well, as long as God is awake, I am not afraid." What a simple and profound statement, "as long as God is awake, I am not afraid." 
What simple faith! Joseph did not question the angel's message or doubt God's purpose. Many of us need to be more like the little girl whom the farmer found lost in his meadow. The farmer said to her, "Do not cry; I'll take you home." The little child snuggled up to him, and with a smile, said, "I knew you would; I was waiting for you." "Waiting for me?" said the man. "What made you think I was coming?" "I was praying you would." she said. "Praying? When I first heard you, you were saying A B C D E F G. What was that for?" She looked up again, and said, "I'm just a little girl. I was praying all the letters of the alphabet and letting God put them together the way He wanted to. He knows I was lost, and He knows how to put them together better than I do." What a difference, if we would only let God put the letters of our lives together, and, like Joseph, trust Him regardless of man's opinion. 
As an aged Christian lay dying in Edinburgh, a friend called to say farewell. "I just had three other visitors," said the dying man, "and with two of them I parted; but the third I shall keep with me forever." Who are they?" "The first was Faith, and I said, 'Goodby, Faith! I thank God for your company ever since I first trusted Christ; but now I am going where faith is lost in sight,' Then came Hope. 'Farewell, Hope!' I cried. 'You have helped me in many an hour of battle and distress, but now I shall not need you, for I am going where hope passes into fruition.' 'Last of all came Love. 'Love,' said I, 'you have indeed been my friend; you have linked me with God and with my fellow men; you have comforted and gladdened all my pilgrimage. But I cannot leave you behind; you must come with me through the gates, into the city of God."