No doubt about doubt

Did you know that followers of God experience times of doubt?

Some people don’t get this. Some people think that faith and doubt are opposites. In fact, one of the evil one’s most effective tools is to make Christians wonder if they really are believers simply because they doubt.

My friend Greg Waybright has helped me here. He says that you can only doubt what you believe. For example, you know what an atheist doubts, don’t you? In an unguarded moment, an atheist says, “What if there is a God?” You can only doubt what you believe. And if you’ve been a believer for very long, no doubt you’ve wrestled with doubt.

Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, experienced doubt. His thoughts are so relatable and can be stated very simply in a question: If God is on our side, why do the wicked prosper? I mean, if God is good at all, if He has anything to say about this world, any involvement whatsoever, then it seems that God would be quick to reward those who are pure and quick to judge those who are evil. Asaph saw the success of those who didn't follow God, and he called it oppressive (See Psalm 73).

But then there was a turning point for Asaph:

…till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. PS 73:17

The answer is in the sanctuary.

I realize there are times when you just don’t feel like going to church. Nonetheless it is in the sanctuary that God reveals himself. Something happens at church. Something happens in worship. Something happens when we sing. Something happens in God’s presence. We gain an eternal perspective. We discover God’s viewpoint.

The answer is in the sanctuary.