In John 6 we read that John the Baptist was not afraid in speaking up to King Herod and telling him that its not right of him to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. John the Baptist was fully aware of the consequences of speaking up to the king. Yet John was not afraid or disturbed by it. John was put into prison for this. In the end he was beheaded by deceit. John the Baptist was not an ordinary man. It was next to impossible to kill him so he was killed by deceit. This is what happens to those who stand for that which is right.
Let us ponder a while on Psalms 73. This Psalms was written by Asaph, who was the chief of the musicians of the musician guild of the Temple. He begins the psalms with strong faith that the Lord is good to those who are pure in heart. Then in second verse he speaks that he almost lost his footing and lost his hold. He felt jealous of the wicked since he saw that they did not have any suffering.
The wicked are arrogant, bullies, mockers and lived their lives as such. the Bible calls them people who live without God. They increase in wealth and live a peaceful luxurious life. Asaph is seen asking himself if he lived a holy and righteous life all in vain.
Asaph did not speak his mind to anyone neither did he sow the seed of doubt in the mind of others. He remembers the struggles and tribulations he had to endure. He self consoles himself and does not share the thoughts with anyone else. He think out aloud that if he had shared his thoughts with others then he would have wronged the coming generation.
Yet he yearned to know why is that the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. Today we too are like Asaph. Haven’t we all also been self doubting???When we are in self doubt we must always remember that we can cause others also to have self doubt in faith. The solution to this Asaph saw was to seek the presence of the Lord and reach to His feet.
Psalms 73:27-28, 27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
When Asaph saw the solution he reprimands himself by accepting that he was foolish. Psalms 73:22,22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
And he again proclaims his faith in the Lord Psalms 72:25, 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Dear children of God it is very normal and natural to have self doubt in our faith. But when in doubt do not turn your steps into the ways of the Satan. Do not abandon the Lord. Like Asaph seek and fall into the presence of the Lord Almighty. In the Old Testament we have many examples of iconic people having doubt in faith. Eg: Elijah, Moses backed before fulfilling Lord’s instructions; Number 20, the people of Israel started to crib against the Lord and asked Moses for water in the desert. Yahweh asked Moses to ask water from the rock. Even after having performed several miracles under Lord’s hand, Moses doubted if the rock would give water. He struck the rock and it gave forth water. But seeing the doubt in Moses, Yahweh says to him that since you had doubt in me you will not set foot in the promised land of Canaan.
Psalms 1:1,1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
Dear children of God, when we doubt the Father Almighty we cause deep wounds in His heart. Jeremiah 32:27, 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Isaiah 59:1, Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
Children of God should have a steadfast heart is what the Father desires the most and looks after them till the end of age. He is with us through all generations.
Proverbs 3:12, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
Proverbs 25:26, 26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
Jehovah Roi 