Quote:
Originally Posted by Luke
I will restate the question
How does one BELIEVE God more. I struggle with unbelief, but I believe as best I can. I am going through some major turmoil right now, and am struggling to take God's word as it stands, which I have never had a problem with before. The devil is attacking me with all kinds of verses that I used to be able refute (Hebrews 6, Hebrews 10, James 2), making me think I am in danger of losing my salvation or all kinds of stupid things.
How does one BELIEVE God, and fully rest in Him, in the midst of trials?
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Brother Luke,
There are no easy answers to your questions. Knowing how to rightly divide the word of truth helps with the Books of Hebrews; James; and Matthew. And I could give you some verses that might strengthen your faith, but ultimately when you are dealing with
doubt - you are dealing with matters of the
heart. We do not "
doubt" with our mind, conscience, soul, or spirit.
Doubting is solely a function of the
heart - just like
believing is also a sole function of the
heart.
Here are some things that we must do to overcome doubt (in our hearts).
1. Examine ourselves – whether we are “in the faith”.
2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2. Prove our own selves – that we are not “reprobates”.
2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
3. Study God’s word for God’s approval –rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
4. Study God’s word to answer.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
5. KEEP thy heart with all diligence – To avoid the snares, the pitfalls, and the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Keeping one's heart is not easy. God always tests, tries, and proves His people (saints) - this has been His "mode of operation" from the Garden of Eden up to the present time, and none of us is "exempt".
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Four years ago my wife and I lost our oldest son (42 years old - home with the Lord). Had we lost him ten or fifteen years earlier I'm not so sure that I could have "handled" it, but the Lord was gracious and put us to the "test" when we were more able to:"
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." [
Proverbs 3:5] I can testify to you that the moment we heard of his death - two (2) verses came to my mind instantly:
. . . . the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. [Job 1:21]
and:
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." [2 Corinthians 5:8]
I cannot tell you how much comfort those two verses were to us, I can only say to you that His grace was sufficient for us in our hour of need.
2 Corinthians 12:9 . . . . My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
There's lots more verses, but I'm sure you get the idea. A word of advise from an elder in the Lord (50 years saved) - God bless and keep you brother. Don't ever despair and give up. Keep trying, and if you fall pick yourself up and try again!
Psalms 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Your brother in Christ,
George Anderson