“The Doubter’s Prayer”

If your doubts still persist after facing them, praying about them, and developing the habit of talking to yourself with a Scripture passage that refutes them, then seek the help of a minister or a Christian counselor. God has given us three resources to help us whenever we get into spiritual difficulties: the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God. The final answer to doubt may come as you share with an experienced Christian the things that are going on in your heart.

If you are not able to get the kind of help I am suggesting, then get in touch with your nearest Christian bookshop and ask them to recommend some helpful reading on the subject. Whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to settle down into a complacent attitude about your doubts. Adopt a positive approach and determine to do something about resolving them. This will ensure that even though your doubts may take a certain amount of time to be cleared away, they will not be able to degenerate into unbelief.

Let me remind you of “The Doubter’s Prayer” compiled by Martin Luther:

Dear Lord, although I am sure of my position,
I am unable to sustain it without Thee.
Help me or I am lost.

If the only thing you are able to do is pray, then that by itself will prevent doubt from becoming unbelief. If you also adopt the principle of “talking to yourself” from the Word of God, then you have in your hands the strategy for overcoming doubt.

Further Study

Mk 9:14-29; Mt 9:29-30; 21:21

What was the father’s request?

Do you need to pray that prayer today?