I’m Not OK
“Unsettling Doubt”

On the outside, you are crushing it; but on the inside, you are collapsing!  

Doubt is uncertainty that raises questions.

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out…” - Matthew 12:20 (Isaiah 42:1-4)

Mark 9:14-29

Dad, bring your kids to Jesus.

“If you are willing, you can make me clean.” - Mark 1:40

Difference between believing God can do something or faith that God will do something

Unsettled doubt can make us…

	Double-minded: We want to be right rather than risk trusting.
		“Doubting Thomas” (John 20:24-29)
		Didymus – “twin,” John mentions it twice
			In the ancient culture, twins were regarded as negative omens.
		John was probably making a connection between “doubt” and “two” as 
			the Greeks did.
		To doubt is to be of two minds (John Ortberg: Faith and Doubt)
		James says the same thing (James 1:5-8)
			“Double-mindedness” is unstable.

	Cynical about everything
		“Bad things always happen to good people.”
		“Good things only happen to other people.”
		“God seems to work for others, so I might as well not think about Him at all.”
		Pontius Pilate
			What is Truth? (John 18:38)
			“I am innocent … is it your responsibility?” (Matthew 27:24)
		Modern day: “Whatever!”
		Cynic: In the Greek, it means “dog”
			No aspirations
			No retentions
			Spiritual growth isn’t necessary – “blood is on the doorpost”
				(Exodus 12:6-7)

	Unwilling to trust
		Toxic – doubt gone wrong
		Refusal to trust
		Not uncertainty; it’s unwillingness to trust
		Example: Saul
			Gifted, strong, charismatic
			He would not trust God enough to obey Him

It’s one thing to …
	Question
	Be suspect
	Defy

It would be easier if God would remove doubt, but He doesn’t.
	Instead, He inspires us to trust, believe, and have faith.

“Everything is possible for one who believes.” – Mark 9:23

How much faith do you have to have?

Matthew 17:19-20

Faith is not a DIY project!

If …
you are struggling with unbelief, tell Jesus.
you want victory, then you don’t need certainty, but trust.
you want to see God’s power, then you need to be in His presence.