Roller Coaster Faith

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. He is a double‑minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:6;8

Have you ever experienced “roller coaster faith”? James calls it being double minded. One minute we are confident in what God is going to do for us and in us, and the next we are questioning whether it was really God or not. I truly believe that God is going to do what we are believing for, but when the facts say otherwise, well this is the real challenge isn’t it?

There is a difference between facts and truth. Facts are what you see in front of you. The unpaid bills scream at you of insecurity, the failed marriage says you will be alone, or the everyday struggles of being a mom says you are not able to be the woman you want to be. The truth is what God says about the facts. The truth says God knows the bills we have, and He will provide for us. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.(Matt. 6:30-33) The truth says your entire household will come to the saving knowledge of Christ, including your spouse (Read 1 Corinthians 7) “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” (Acts 16:31) The truth is you are a woman of God and can walk in any circumstance with strength. “Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” (Proverbs 31:25-26;29)

I loved how my Pastor explained unanswered prayers. He says sometimes we do not get what we pray for because God knows it is not the right time. Do you give your children everything they ask for? It is because He loves his children, as we do our children, that He does not always answer us the way we want or expect. We do face problems and difficulties, and the facts may scream that God is not listening or not there. But there is a truth that is more real than any fact. There are times our children fall down and we do not run to pick them up. There are times they are sitting in time out and have to suffer logical consequences that we can not bail them out of, because we know the lesson for them is greater than the moment of discomfort they are facing. But that pain does not negate that we are there for them, or that they are not supposed to be where they are.

James says to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Do you feel the facts tossing you back and forth between the truth of what God has spoken to you? Do you feel double minded and question “Did God say”? Then maybe you need to take a “time-out”. Pray, and seek the word for what God says over you, then stand on that truth, not letting the momentary facts discourage you from the eternal truth.