About Doubts

by N/A | Category: For Young Believers | May 1951

You will, no doubt, have read in "The Pilgrim's Progress " the story of the experience of Christian and Hopeful in Doubting Castle. Have you ever been there? Most young believers are troubled with doubts at times. I well remember when I was a young Christian passing through periods of great despondency as I began to question: "What if I am not really saved after all? " I was tortured by the thought, but looking back now I feel thankful for the experience. I have come to realize that doubts are not altogether bad things if you know how to deal with them. I have observed that those who are troubled in this way often take a firmer grip of spiritual things than those whose spiritual experience appears to be all plain sailing. Let that encourage you

The way to deal with doubts is helpfully illustrated by this story about Martin Luther. Martin Luther dreamed that the devil came to him with a long list of his sins. Having scanned the list carefully he agreed that he was guilty of them 41. "Are there any more? he asked. The devil went away and returned with a further long list. Luther pleaded guilty to these also. List after list was brought until the devil said, " These are all." " Now," said Luther, " take your pen and write across them: 'the blood of Jesus ... cleanseth from all sin'." That is the way to get assurance by standing firmly on the Word of God. Doubts usually arise from feelings, and feelings are very changing things. Don't make your feelings the barometer of your spiritual condition. Believe God's Word against your feelings. Your salvation depends not on what you feel, but on what God says. By the way, have you ever read "Safety, certainty and enjoyment" ? This valuable booklet is full of helpful counsel on this matter of the assurance of salvation. I well remember its comforting effect when, as a young Christian, I was much troubled in mind about some of the matters with which it deals. One more word of advice: talk over your difficulties with someone older and more experienced in the Christian life. Do not be afraid of revealing just how you feel. You will probably find that confiding in someone who understands such difficulties will be the first step to overcoming them. I hope that you will learn to rest your whole weight on God's Word so that you may be "filled with joy and peace in believing."

N/A | May 1951
For Young Believers