Devotional

How You Respond to Doubt

Ready 

"Master," Simon replied, "we've worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I'll let down the nets."
-Luke 5:5  

Set 

When you’re in the midst of a situation that seems hopeless in sports or in life, how do you respond to your doubts and frustrations? As Christians, we all tend to think that doubt should never come to our minds. I mean, we believe that God can do anything, right?

First, let’s all step back and realize that we will constantly deal with the doubts in our human nature, but it’s how we respond to them that makes the difference. In Luke 5:8, Simon Peter responds to Jesus with a tone of frustration and doubt. Jesus had asked him to let down his fishing nets into deep water, but Peter responded by stating they’d already worked hard all night and hadn’t caught a thing.

We often respond to God with the same attitude. Personally, I find I often feel tired from trying to “fix” a situation in sports or in life that doesn’t seem to be changing. I almost tell God, “Hey, I’ve been doing this for a while, and nothing has changed.” But God knows our situation, just like He knew Peter’s. After Peter shared his frustration, he then responded, “But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.” He didn’t understand why he would let down the nets again, but he still decided to do what Jesus had asked him. Once he then let down the nets, they overflowed with so many fish that the nets began to break!

We’re all going to battle doubts and frustrations. They’re just part of life. But that’s when we must choose the road of faith by trusting and obeying God regardless of what we may feel or think. When we do, He will respond with power!  

Go 

1. What are some doubts you’re facing right now?
2. How are you responding to those doubts?
3. Is it difficult for you to respond in obedience? If so, what can you do differently to change this pattern and begin trusting Him?  

Workout 

Proverbs 3:5-6
Mark 8:34
Luke 5:5-11
1 Corinthians 15:51
Ephesians 3:20