Do you ever find yourself doubting God?

As a pastor’s wife, I have discovered that ministry is really hard work.  We all have great dreams when we begin. Things that we firmly believe God has called us to fulfill. But it doesn’t take long before you realize what a challenge it can be!  Eventually you come to realize that ministry dreams (or any life dream) can only be fulfilled through the small, day-to-day choices we make.  Those daily steps of obedience are where the battles are fought and the real fruit is grown.

There are days when you may question your call to ministry.  There are days when others will question your call to ministry.  And in those moments, you have a choice to make.  What are you going to believe?  Our daily choices reflect how we have answered this question.

This is not a new problem.  In Genesis 3:1, we read the story of the first woman, Eve, and her history-making moment.  Unfortunately, it was just the beginning of many mistakes humanity would make throughout history. But the FOUNDATION of those mistakes really hasn’t changed much.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

It was a life-changing mistake: Eve allowed doubt to creep in.  What she and Adam had previously believed to be true (God’s Word was true)…was now open for debate.  This is a very dangerous philosophy. At creation, God had introduced the reality that WE are subject to the authority and judgment of His Word.  Now a new idea was introduced by the serpent: God’s truth and word was subject to OUR judgment.  And if you can’t believe in the truth of God’s words to you, who can you trust?  Thus, began the slippery slope into self-rule and separation from the One they needed most.

As she gave ear to the serpent’s words, she and her husband fell to the power of temptation.  We can act shocked that she would succumb to such a basic temptation.  But take a closer look…who are we listening to? What do our daily choices reflect?  As a woman following Christ, I find I need to FREQUENTLY ask myself  how I am answering the question, “Did God really say…”  It may look like this:

• Did God really say that I can trust Him to give me WHATEVER I need each day?  Or am I afraid and intimidated to step out in faith in obedience to what He is asking?
• Did God really say that He is ENOUGH for me? Or have I been pursuing material things, positions, or the acceptance of people to make me happy?
• Did God really say He is FOR me?  Or am I playing the victim instead?
• Did God really say I am HIS daughter and He will care for me when I am in need? Or am I exhausting myself or others with my neediness and worry?
• Did God really say He ACCEPTS me and will hold me close when others reject me? Or am I choosing to shut others out because of bitterness, anger, and fear?

Every day as a mother, I set boundaries for my children. These boundaries include promises, rewards, and consequences-good or bad. They have a choice to believe me or not.  My heart is saddened when they fail to take me at my word for I am hoping that they will trust me. Yet I still have to be true to my word.

Do you see that God desires the same from us?   His heart is that of a Father and more than anything, He wants to be taken at His Word.  He is faithful and true; but we are often, like Eve, incredibly unfaithful.  However, there is an incredible power released to us, when despite our doubt, we choose to faithfully believe God and act upon that belief.  And a ministry and life well-lived is lived well one choice at a time.  There is no substitute for faithfulness.

When the enemy whispers those doubt-filled words in your ear “Did God really say…?” choose to respond with a resounding and faith-filled, “YES!”  Yes, He did really say He would care for you.  Yes, He did really say He give you everything you need to fulfill those seemingly impossible dreams.  Yes, He did really say He is for you and He does see your faithfulness in the little things!  He has spoken and you can stake your ministry AND your life on the truth of His every word.