He who doubts is like a wave tossed in the sea. James teaches us about doubt and faith. He changes our idea of faith by telling us to consider the trials in life pure joy.
How many times in life do we head the advice of James?
Well, let me encourage you today by going back to those verses in James chapter 1. The verses that put our faith in real perspective. The ones that spell out our double-minded faith as unstable and in them we shouldn’t be expecting anything from God.
What does that mean? Double-minded faith?
Let me be honest here. Being double-minded had always been one of my biggest struggles.
If you have read my testimony, you will know that I spent much of my life in rebellion against the rules. Not understanding the true measure of grace that I was granted and gifted by the shed blood of Christ.
I was double-minded. I could play the game, talk the talk, and occasionally walk the walk. Live for myself I did, I could talk out of one side of my mouth like a Christian and like a sailor out of the other (since we are being honest).
Double-minded. I was unstable.
When I had my first child, things were tough, I had severe postpartum depression and never sought any help including help from the Lord.
Why? I doubted. I always doubted. My whole life was about independence and I always doubted that I needed help. I doubted the reality of my desperate situations. I doubted He could help me in my darkest hours.
All my doubts doubled up when they became fears. Fears that were never realized. Fears that I held like a buoy as I was tossed about in the unstable state that I resided in.
All of that eventually came crashing over me. Like the waves, I was being tossed in, I was overwhelmed as they came crashing down on my reality.
Unsettled. Unstable.
What changed?
What began to change my thought processes may seem really strange, but hang in there with me.
I was in the middle of a study of the tabernacle.
Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” Exodus 25:8-9 (NIV)
And the details went on. And On. And On.
From the design of the table, what furnishings would be in exactly what place, what offerings were acceptable, all the way down to… finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker (Exodus 26:1b NIV)
Why would that matter?
Notice why they were to make a sanctuary for the Lord?
And I will dwell among them.
Not in them. Among them. The plan had to be the exact copy of everything that He told them. The details were perfect and laid out in perfect fashion and God expected them to be perfect for Him to dwell among them.
Friends, that was a building. And I know it was building meant to house the presence of the Lord, but it was perfect.
The plans were perfect. He knew every detail. He knew every thread and where He wanted it placed and how He wanted it formed.
I am glad He didn’t wait for us to be perfect to dwell in our hearts!
How much more can He carry out the plans for your life? For your days? In perfect fashion. In perfect detail. According to His plan.
You are not a place where God can dwell among you. You are the tabernacle that He will dwell within. Perfect plans He has and perfect plans He will carry out.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the heaviness of this world. It is easy to feel unstable and be double-minded. It is easy to say that we have faith and constantly doubt.
We continually believe that we have the control and the perfect plans in our lives until it all comes crashing down and then we want to be rescued.
We gasp for air as we try to grab some sense of normalcy and self-control.
Let Go.
God has you in His hands. He has a design and perfect plan for your life.
Let go of the doubt. Let go of the worry and fear. If He can direct a skilled laborer to carefully stitch cherubim into the curtain of the tabernacle, He can stitch your needs into your days.
He can foresee the aching of your heart and send comfort. He can carefully weave His grace and mercy into your life beyond what you can expect, imagine, or do on your very own.
Personal Reflection
We can say that we believe and trust God but living it out is a very different.
Faith is action. Are you ready to take that step today?
Are you ready to lay aside the doubt and the double-minded way of living? What do you hold onto and try to control in your life?
What is the first step you can take today?
Are you ready to confess your doubt and ask God to move you forward in your faith or have you grown too comfortable in your control?
I am glad you are here. I want to introduce to you Seeking God Daily. Because a couple friends and I are passionate about sharing God’s Word we have joined forces to bring together a Facebook Group called Seeking God Daily.
Seeking God Daily is a group that offers hope, encouragement, and support in learning God’s Word and applying the truths to our walk with Christ.
We want to encourage one another through authentic, honest and respectful conversation as we earnestly seek Him daily.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
This week and next you will get to meet the ladies behind this new adventure. You can join this group by clicking HERE! While you are there feel free to invite some friends along for the journey. We would love to have them!
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I've been pondering the connection in my own life between what I believe and how that looks in my daily life. Trusting along with you for a seamless life.
Michele, this is something I try to always be aware. I used to not worry about what people thought of me, but know I wonder if they were able to see Jesus in me today. Am I being a example of the only Jesus they may see. I am not perfect, nor do I try to be, I just want people to know Him and I wonder if they will see it in my life.
Jaime, your post was speaking right to me today… Yes I am ready to let go of this double-mindedness and this false sense of control! I love the imagery of the tabernacle- I've been ruminating on that in my own study for a while. He does indeed have perfect plans. ♥ I'm intrigued by your FB group too and as always thankful for your hosting us so faithfully. Blessings!
Heather, I am glad to hear this post spoke to you. It was actually not what I set down to write but just poured out of me. I suppose those are the ones that you post. I am glad that you join us. I would love for you to join our FB group. Just go to the link and click the join button and I can let you in. I would love to see you there and joining in the conversations. It is a group that I hope will really have a lot of authentic conversations about life with Christ in the middle of it all. Blessings to you, too, my friend!
Such a great post. James is probably one of my favorite books. It's such a convicting and blunt book of the Bible. Letting go of ourselves is always so hard. Thanks for the encouragement!
I am happy when I read a book of the Bible and it is straight forward. Sometimes, I just want a direct answer. I want to know exactly what to do and what is expected of me. Praise the Lord He doesn't give us all the answers, though. We can learn to lean on Him and trust in Him when we can trust that He knows. Thanks for sharing with us today, Candice.
Jaime- we sound alike in our doubts and fear 🙂 I love how you mentioned the care to detail God has and then how He was going to dwell with the people there. How inspiring and encouraging to know God does that for us.
Great post!
It is amazing that in order for His presence to be with the people they had to follow the strictest of rules. Prior to the cross they needed to know exactly what the marks were. They needed to know what it took for a holy God to dwell among them. Yet, He takes us in all our imperfections. Not that I would trade places with them but do you think that we miss out on having reverence For a Holy God being this side of the cross? Thanks for joining us, Julie.
So glad to see you in James again this week, Jaime! Such an inspiring post!
Thanks for the encouragement, June. It is a book worth camping in isn't it. Thanks for joining us here, friend!
Jaime, it's so easy to get our eyes off of Him and start trusting in our own plans and solutions, isn't it? But it always leads to disaster, confusion, and double-mindedness. Thanks for helping us all refocus our trust and attention on Jesus.
It is easy to get out focus on us. We often look only at what is directly in front of us. I am so glad to know that Christ is ALWAYS looking at the whole picture. He knows the plans He has for us and has had our days planned before the foundations of the earth. That is hope I can trust. Thanks so much as always for your openness and wisdom, Donna.
I always know Jamie I will find a great message when I visit, thank you!
Oh, Thank you so much, Karren. That truly blesses my heart. I am certainly glad you are here. I always appreciate your visits.
Thanks for this. Some of us need it and need to remember this.
Thanks for hosting and I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Thanks, Patrick, I hope that people are truly influenced by the gospel when they visit. It is always my goal to bring glory to God by giving an authentic gospel message and to encourage and build up the community of believers around me! I am glad you are here, friend!