RC Sproul once preached, “The Heavenly Father never allows anything to happen to you that is not for your ultimate good. If we could believe that, we could face anything.” The Sovereignty of God is on full display in the Bible and in our own lives, but what happens when we doubt God? How can we prove faithful in believing His goodness for us?

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God’s Goodness

“There are all kinds of things in the proximate realm that are troubling and bad; but God stands over that realm and has the power to take every bad thing that happens to you and make it contribute ultimately to your good. All these griefs and sufferings are ultimately being used for our good. Ultimately it is good that they have happened to us.

The Heavenly Father never allows anything to happen to you that is not for your ultimate good. If we could believe that, we could face anything.” – R.C. Sproul

The proximate verse the ultimate: the proximate is the sufferings we endure presently and the ultimate is that God is over it all and will make it turn out for good.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to his purpose.”

Double-Mindedness

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8

Here we are instructed in James to ask for wisdom with FAITH and not to doubt God. He promises to give us this wisdom generously and without reproach – meaning God is not disappointed you are asking for wisdom from Him – He’s not disapproving of you needing help!

But the requirement is that we ask in faith – BECAUSE if we are asking with doubt, we are not truly believing God, his nature or his promises. The doubt makes us double minded.

What to Do When Doubting

1. Rest – We need to rest on the object of our faith not in the answer, solution or outcome.

2. Prayer – “What happens at the end of each prayer? At the moment we say “amen” we rest everything in Christ’s hands – believing he will keep his promises to us. All prayer does not just flow out of faith but ultimately every prayer flows back into faith. Prayer is proof that faith lives and we can deploy it to destroy doubt.” – Jeremiah Montgomery

3. Repent and and draw near to God – James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages”. ― Charles H. Spurgeon

Resources

(amazon links are affiliate links)

RC Sproul Ultimately for Our Good: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ultimately-with-r-c-sproul/id494316084?i=1000559292335

Article about Jim Elliot Mission Trip: https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2006/01/08/Ecuadoran-tribe-transformed-after-killing-of-5-missionaries/stories/200601080177

Book: Through the Gates of Splendor by Ellisabeth Elliot: https://amzn.to/3LLsFoe

Hand Soap Pump: https://www.etsy.com/listing/936517802/foaming-soap-dispenser?click_key=9439d615d1ac2aab6f5a3dea4ab77170ee96c694%3A936517802&click_sum=60c1a752&ref=shop_home_recs_1&frs=1

Hand Soap Pump: https://amzn.to/3w0QkKN