Most men doubt their own abilities. You don’t. It’s no wonder they want to keep you around. It keeps them from having to worry about failure all the time.”
–Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove)
“And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'”
“And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'”
–Luke 24:38 (NKJV)
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Over the last several decades there has been much talk of faith. Super-faith, hyper-faith, great-faith, and so on. If those with the so-called hyper-faith do not receive what they want, or prayed for, or lived to get, does that mean they don’t have the faith? A friend of mine who started a large church in Brooklyn for kids was once told that he had very little faith. He related to me that he thought he had great faith in that God met all his needs. No, he wasn’t driving a BMW. No, he didn’t live in a mansion, but only a small apartment. No, he wasn’t eating lobster or filet mignon, but was eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
My friend lived by faith, but people often doubt. Even John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah. When doubt enters the mind we need to go to the Word of God. We need to look at the “heroes” of the faith. We need to review the great acts of God in history and in our own lives. F.B. Meyer said, “Melancholy and depression are apt at putting questions but faith has an answer ready.” Today let’s look at another psalm by Asaph, Psalm 77, and see what the Spirit is saying to us.
1 — I cried out to God with my voice–to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.
2 — In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.
3 — I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah
4 — You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 — I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6 — I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.
7 — Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?
8 — Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?
9 — Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah
10 — And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 — I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 — I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.” (NKJV)
Sometimes life can cause a person to panic. I know of those who have had “panic attacks,” sometimes for no seeming reason. If that happens it most surely is the work of the devil. He thrives on making the child of God panic; that’s when we need to remember the Words of this Psalm–“I will remember.” Satan wants to destroy our hope, but we need to sing, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” (Edward Mote)
When we feel comfortless that is the time we need to call on the Comforter. Notice the term, “Selah.” When we become downtrodden too often we think and ponder upon the wrong things. “Selah” means to think on this–not the problem, not our sorrow, not our weakness, not our doubts, but think upon the person of God, His miracles, His keeping power and the wonders He has wrought in the world and in our lives. Remember the right times and the right things. George O. Wood puts it this way, “You must turn from focusing on your own life to recalling what the Lord has done for you… If you permit your memories to dwell exclusively on your own hurts you will never find your way out.” So practice focusing on the Lord. Focus on His character, how He has dealt with you. Take your eyes off the situation–the doubts–and look to Jesus for He is the answer.
“He who ‘mid the raging billows walked upon the sea
Still can hush our wildest tempest, as on Galilee;
He who wept and prayed in anguish in Gethsemane,
Drinks with us each cup of trembling, in our agony.
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.”
–A.B. Simpson
————————————-
Over the last several decades there has been much talk of faith. Super-faith, hyper-faith, great-faith, and so on. If those with the so-called hyper-faith do not receive what they want, or prayed for, or lived to get, does that mean they don’t have the faith? A friend of mine who started a large church in Brooklyn for kids was once told that he had very little faith. He related to me that he thought he had great faith in that God met all his needs. No, he wasn’t driving a BMW. No, he didn’t live in a mansion, but only a small apartment. No, he wasn’t eating lobster or filet mignon, but was eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
My friend lived by faith, but people often doubt. Even John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah. When doubt enters the mind we need to go to the Word of God. We need to look at the “heroes” of the faith. We need to review the great acts of God in history and in our own lives. F.B. Meyer said, “Melancholy and depression are apt at putting questions but faith has an answer ready.” Today let’s look at another psalm by Asaph, Psalm 77, and see what the Spirit is saying to us.
1 — I cried out to God with my voice–to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.
2 — In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.
3 — I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah
4 — You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 — I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6 — I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.
7 — Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?
8 — Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?
9 — Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah
10 — And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 — I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 — I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.” (NKJV)
Sometimes life can cause a person to panic. I know of those who have had “panic attacks,” sometimes for no seeming reason. If that happens it most surely is the work of the devil. He thrives on making the child of God panic; that’s when we need to remember the Words of this Psalm–“I will remember.” Satan wants to destroy our hope, but we need to sing, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” (Edward Mote)
When we feel comfortless that is the time we need to call on the Comforter. Notice the term, “Selah.” When we become downtrodden too often we think and ponder upon the wrong things. “Selah” means to think on this–not the problem, not our sorrow, not our weakness, not our doubts, but think upon the person of God, His miracles, His keeping power and the wonders He has wrought in the world and in our lives. Remember the right times and the right things. George O. Wood puts it this way, “You must turn from focusing on your own life to recalling what the Lord has done for you… If you permit your memories to dwell exclusively on your own hurts you will never find your way out.” So practice focusing on the Lord. Focus on His character, how He has dealt with you. Take your eyes off the situation–the doubts–and look to Jesus for He is the answer.
“He who ‘mid the raging billows walked upon the sea
Still can hush our wildest tempest, as on Galilee;
He who wept and prayed in anguish in Gethsemane,
Drinks with us each cup of trembling, in our agony.
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.”
–A.B. Simpson