Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38).

Satan loves to use fear and doubt against believers. He knows if he can get you to question God, then maybe you will give up and abandon God’s will for your life. Feelings of fear often precede feelings of doubt and uncertainty. If left unattended, these runaway emotions can cause you to stop trusting God and His ability to provide for you.

A first step to defuse doubt is to determine its origin. Begin by asking yourself if your feelings of doubt have a legitimate basis. Many times we struggle with thoughts and feelings that have no validity.

Second, reading God’s Word is a great way to combat fear and doubt. A daily reading program will show you many ways to handle doubt. The Book of Psalms highlights many personal battles over emotions such as fear, doubt, loneliness, and discouragement. David and others made a conscious decision to trust the Lord through tremendously difficult circumstances and found that God never once failed them.

Prayer is also essential in fighting fear and doubt. In essence, prayer is faith in action. When we pray, regardless of whether we feel like it, we make a statement of faith. We pray because we see God as the solution to what we face. If you are facing a difficult situation, don’t be slow in asking God to show you the best way to handle it. If your level of trust seems low, don’t worry. God is wise and kind. He wants to teach you more about Himself, not frighten you away. Your faith will increase as you get to know God better.

Even if you don’t have the emotional strength to trust God, you still can begin. God will be your strength. A.B. Simpson often told those who found themselves in a difficult spot, “When God tests you, it is a good time for you to test God by putting God’s promises to the proof, and claiming from God just as much as your trials have rendered necessary.”

Always be honest with God; He knows it all anyway. Honesty breaks the pattern of doubt. The last thing Satan wants you to do is to go to God in Prayer and tell Him you feel doubtful. Satan knows that God loves you with an eternal love and that if you come to God for help, He will give you all the assistance you need. Two helpful reminders when you

Two helpful reminders when you are fighting fear and doubt:

• Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.

• Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time.

(Luke 21:28) Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way.

He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.

Pastor’s Podium

The Pastor’s Podium column is offered each week by a different pastor or lay person representing an Ellsworth County church.

The week’s columnist is Dennis Carter, pastor at the Ellsworth First United Methodist and Kanopolis United Methodist churches.