God of Comfort

I SEE YOUR DOUBT AND UP IT COMPASSION. We all have doubts, but God never runs out of compassion. He IS mercy. He IS love. So when James 1 mentions having doubts so great they are like giant waves of the sea, it is so that we will understand what doubt is and how it affects our trust in God, so that we will recognize doubt in our thoughts and know what to do with it. God never condemns us for having doubts nor for lacking faith (Rm 8:1). But until we know “this is faith” and “these are doubts,” we will continue to struggle like those giant waves.

The same can be said about the gifts of the Spirit and the ministry offices. Most, but not all, have turned their descriptions and instructions into legalist principles, which was never the Spirit’s intention. When it says the Spirit gives them “as He wills,” it is because He knows fully the person speaking and the one who is being ministered to. He will cause us to use the gifts that are needed for that time and situation. Faith is not meant to be a legal principle. Faith means you know you are loved so much that you can take any doubts to your heavenly Father, and He will bring you comfort.

When James 1 says a man who wavers like the sea will not receive anything from God, it does not mean God has become hardhearted and turned away, but rather, that God is seeking him, turning his gaze upward, and pouring in His love in order to dispense those doubts. He is a wonderful Father. When our children come to us with doubt, we bring comfort and ease from their anxieties and fears. We don’t magnify their hurting, saying, “You just figure it out,” or “Go deal with it.” Who does that to someone they love? I remember encouraging my daughter when she was doubting things in her life. Our God’s love for us is even greater.

When we feel doubt, we should pray. Prayer is simply conversation with God. He just wants us to talk to Him and be ourselves. I talk to Him as my Father, and He loves me as Suzanne. I don’t have to put on airs or pretend to be stronger than I really feel. He knows the thoughts and intents of my heart, so that is worthless anyway. Even better, when I’m without words, I don’t have to explain things to Him. Take God your doubt, “Papa, I’m not sure I can handle this, and I don’t know what to do,” and in His amazing love, He will reach down and bring comfort. He delights to bring comfort.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Then His Spirit will give us the wisdom we need to overcome our doubts. The Phillips translation of James 1 puts it this way: “And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.” There is no confusion between this and the portion that follows, where the Scripture says to ask in faith without doubt. Put simply, God wants to be our strength. When we doubt, we set those thoughts aside and trust Him anyway because that is His promise, to be the answer for our doubts. We seek Him, and He loves, loves, LOVES to be found.

Minister Jesse Duplantis says to “doubt your doubts,” and I can give no better advice. The fact it is a doubt means that God will be our confidence because there is never a moment when the devil is speaking in your ear, a time when your thoughts are helter-skelter, that God is not there with you. Never. God does not leave us struggling alone, but He replaces every doubt with His truth. Find a verse that speaks to your situation and meditate on it, placing it in your heart. Renew your mind to see God’s point-of-view, and the doubt will vanish.

When we change our minds then what was on our minds is no longer a problem, and that is the best part of God’s promise of salvation. Through Jesus’ blood, God has provided all of Himself for everything we face. His goodness and kindness lead us to repentance. Repentance is a good thing, not an embarrassment. His forgiveness puts our sins as far away as the east is from the west. We never have to see them again. His love fills in the places where doubts have left holes. His mercy gives us strength to stand up and keep going. His truth protects us from the enemy’s lies, and the precious Holy Spirit fights for us. He is our Advocate.

God knew we would have doubts and gave all of Himself to strengthen us. We can rest our minds on Him and think just, pure, lovely, good, praiseworthy thoughts instead. We fill our hearts and minds with His Word, with His presence, and find unending peace. With thankfulness in our hearts, we have joy in our steps every minute of the day, all night long as we sleep, and again first thing in the morning. Without doubt.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

“Securely thou shalt walk, with no fear of stumbling, fearlessly thou shalt lie down to rest, and enjoy untroubled sleep.” (Proverbs 3:23 Knox)

Image by Dung Tran from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com