I recently heard a song that included the line ‘Jesus over everything‘, and it really impacted me in that instant. Right at the moment that I sang that line, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a stream of things that I had been worrying about, and I thought, ‘…Is Jesus ‘over’ those things, or have I taken authority away from Him and tried to handle those on my own?’

Now might be a good time to pause and ponder the application of this to your life and situation.

While I was still processing that, I heard a sermon by pastor Mike Kelsey that was so profound that I decided to share some thoughts from it. I approach some of the thoughts from a slightly different angle, but the main idea is the same.

The focus is Psalm 73, where Asaph lets us in on a private conversation he seems to be having with God. He is vulnerable as he pours out his thoughts and emotions to God and shares parts of a very important journey that most of us go through at some point in our lives.

He begins in verse 1, by establishing an important fact, “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart (put your name in there).” I want you to keep that in your heart and mind as you continue reading this post, and beyond.

In verse 2 Asaph notes that he’s having a crisis of faith. He says, “…I had nearly lost confidence; my faith was almost gone….”

Then in verse 3, he begins to tell what led to that crisis of faith. He admits, “I was stumbling over what I saw with the wicked. For when I saw the boasters with such wealth and prosperity, I became jealous over their smug security.” Simple put, he was looking around at those around Him who weren’t serving God but appeared to be prosperous, and he envied them.

The first thing that the Holy Spirit brought to my attention, although it’s not the main focus of this post, was that in order to look at others Asaph had to take his eyes off of Christ. This is the reason that Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to keep, ‘… looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” I reasoned that ‘eyes off of Christ –> crisis of faith‘. Why, because the lens through which we view life, changes from God’s perspective of things, to our perspective of things. I’ll probably delve deeper into that in another post.

For Asaph, the crisis was caused by injustice: the wicked seemed to be thriving more than he was. Some of the other things that can lead us to experience a crisis of faith include, the loss of a loved one, personal suffering, intellectual inconsistencies, and unanswered prayer. All of these represent some type of doubt: a juxtaposition of God’s word and our present reality.

Many people believe that doubting is a sin, and condemn themselves and others who are experiencing seasons or moments of doubt, but, what does God’s word tell us about doubt? In Jude 1:22 we are instructed to “Be merciful to those who doubt….” Doubt is not unbelief, it’s just a request or need for more information to solidify what we believe.

Are you or someone you know experiencing doubts about your faith? I pray that our Heavenly Father will use this post to help provide answers to the question or circumstances that have led to the doubts. Remember that, “God is good”, and God is still God, even in the midst of your doubt.

I think it’s awesome how Jesus responded to Thomas’ doubting in John 20: 25-29. Verse 26 tells us, “Then, looking into Thomas’ eyes, he (Jesus) said, “Put your finger here in the wounds of my hands. Here—put your hand into my wounded side and see for yourself.” Jesus provided the information that Thomas needed to move beyond his doubting state. I can sense Jesus’ compassion, as I read the verse, can you?

Jesus didn’t end his conversation with Thomas, at providing proof. In the second half of verse 26, Jesus admonished Thomas to move on. He said, “Thomas, don’t give in to your doubts any longer, just believe!” That’s very wise advice for anyone dealing with doubts.

In the church, there has been such a stigma attached to doubting, together with an automatic implication of ‘backsliding’. As a result, the very thought elicits fear in believers, so we tend to hide or suppress our doubts. The problem is, doubts don’t just go away, they actually tend to get bigger and bigger, and can lead to unbelief if left to fester. Kind of like what happens to an unattended wound. Can you picture it?🤔

Asaph tells us that he did just that, he tried to suppress his doubts. He says, “If I had given in to my pain and spoken of what I was really feeling, it would have sounded like unfaithfulness to the next generation.” In other words, he tried to hide what he was experiencing because he didn’t want to betray the faith that he held dear. The better alternative to suppressing our doubt is being honest.

Isn’t that how many of us think, though? What is it that causes us to believe that we have to pretend and hide our truth from God, in order to some how save faith. Is our view of God such that He some how can’t deal with our questions? Can questions about what’s troubling us catch Him by surprise and throw him off? Do we subconsciously think that He might not know the answers. Might that be one of the disguises that the spirit of fear wears? Just something to ponder.

Instead of shunning those ‘dealing with doubt’, encourage them to ask their questions, to verbalize their perturbations. Don’t pretend to know all the answers, instead allow Jesus to use you to provide, or to be a safe space (sanctuary), for people who are dealing with doubt.

In verse 17, Asaph let’s us in on one of the secrets to overcoming doubt. He says, “…then one day I was brought into the sanctuaries of God, and in the light of glory, my distorted perspective vanished. Then I understood….”

The enemy uses the fear of dealing with doubts, to lead many teenagers and young adults away from Jesus. In some instances, those around them who are older in the faith, respond to their doubts in fear, with condemnation, or by providing answers in Christianese, which only leads to further confusion. If your teenager comes to you with doubts, acknowledge where she (or he) is, be thankful that she is seeking answers, listen, pray and point her to where she can get help. Lovingly encourage her to “not neglect the things that God has designed to build our faith”: the reading of His word, praying, and continuing to connect with a community of Christ followers. Also, remind her to be kind to herself, and trust God to lead her to the answers she seeks.

I love that God doesn’t require us to be perfect Christians in our own strength. He only asks us to be faithful. In other words, be true to who we are, and what we feel, and allow Him to be Lord over everything.

The Psalm ends with Asaph’s realization, as he comes out on the other side of his doubting. He says, “… in spite of all this, you comfort me by your counsel; you draw me closer to you. You lead me with your secret wisdom. And following you brings me into your brightness and glory!”

Asaph then vows to share his story. One that has helped so many believers as we have walked through the same journey of doubt. He says in verse 28, “But I’ll keep coming closer and closer to you, Lord Yahweh, for your name is good to me. I’ll keep telling the world of your awesome works, my faithful and glorious God!“

Crises of faith are not to be frowned upon or feared. James 1, 2-4 encourages us to, ‘Consider it nothing but joy … whenever your faith is tested. Be assured that the testing of your faith produces endurance, leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed in your faith, lacking in nothing.”

I pray that the words of this post have blessed you, and will enable you to be a light for someone facing a crisis of faith. May God use you to rescue those whom the enemy has targeted for destruction via confusion. May you be ‘perfect and completely developed in your faith’, and may Jesus be over everything in your life and circumstances. Amen!

If you’ve never asked Christ to be Lord of your life please pray this prayer. Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sin please forgive me, cleanse me, and make me your child. I commit my life to you today. Amen.

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