{"id":1588,"date":"2018-08-07T22:47:10","date_gmt":"2018-08-07T22:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.estherdorotik.net\/blog\/?p=1588"},"modified":"2024-03-19T15:58:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T20:58:14","slug":"overcoming-doubt-in-all-circumstances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.estherdorotik.net\/blog\/overcoming-doubt-in-all-circumstances\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcoming Doubt Despite Circumstances"},"content":{"rendered":"

I walked over to the sink, squeezed out the contents, and continued to clean up the broken jar, an economy-sized jar that filled the house with the tart smell of pickles. Like that sponge, my heart was filled with a sour smell of doubt\u2014not a doubt in God’s ability but His willingness in my life.<\/p>\n

“Can these dry bones live again?” Ezekiel 37:3<\/p>\n

The million dollar question God asked Ezekiel and the one question I found hard to answer. Most of us are very familiar with the circumstances surrounding our lives. We live with them every day, walking back and forth through the valley, surveying the effects of a broken world, and living with the outcome of broken ways. And if we’re not careful, what our eyes perceive becomes the reality of what our hearts believe. The over-awareness of our situation overshadows our awareness of God’s presence, protection, and provision. Our eyes remain fixed on life rather than the Giver of life. But the question remains, do YOU think these dry bones – the insurmountable obstacle in your life – can live again?<\/p>\n

Friends, before we can fill our hearts with hope, we must sift through the doubt, disappointment, and despair, allowing God to separate the lies, hurts, and confusion. We have to squeeze out the sponge of our hearts and get rid of the doubt filling our thoughts with a sour smell.<\/p>\n

The Sour Smell of Doubt<\/h2>\n

The path to rediscovering hope starts by confronting our doubts. It’s a process of emotional and spiritual decluttering, where we allow God to sift through the layers of disappointment and despair, separating the chaff of lies and confusion. This act is not passive; it demands our engagement. We must be willing to “squeeze out the sponge” of our hearts to rid ourselves of the sourness that taints our perspective.<\/p>\n

Doubt is the <\/a>enemy’s first-hand man. In Genesis 3:1, doubt is what the enemy uses\u00a0to cause confusion, shifting Eve’s eyes from all that she had to the one thing she couldn’t have. If doubt could do that with someone who physically walked with God and whose eyes were filled with the glory of the Creator, how much more can it do in our lives? Even the smallest doubt has hurricane power to uproot mustard trees of faith.<\/p>\n

\"Doubt<\/p>\n

What is Biblical Hope?<\/h2>\n

Hope is not whimsical or unfounded optimism. It is the very fuel for endurance<\/em><\/i>, an anchor for our souls amidst life’s tumultuous seas. It invites us to persevere, to recognize that the night’s darkest hour is just before dawn. Hope lifts our gaze from the immediacy of our problems to the eternal assurances of God. It’s the promise that our present trials are but fleeting in the grand scheme of eternity, ensuring us that hope “does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).<\/p>\n

Misplaced hope, on the other hand, indeed does. Misplaced hope places trust in a person or an outcome and leaves you and me open to disappointment. Hopelessness drains the energy to fight, leaving us gasping for air\u2014paralyzed by pain. Misplaced hope leads to false beliefs we hold closely, paving the way for hopelessness when things don’t quite work out as planned. Misplaced hope is a feeling rather than the faithful Father.<\/p>\n

Distinguishing Between the Voices<\/h2>\n

Understanding the distinction between misplaced hope and His divine assurance of hope is pivotal. Misplaced hope urges us to fixate on outcomes, breeding worry and confusion. In contrast, God’s voice of hope encourages us to “gaze upon the lifter of your head,” promising peace, direction, and reassurance. It is a voice that whispers, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” and invites us to trust in His unfailing love and perfect plan. Amidst the deserts of doubt that we all inevitably traverse, our next steps are crucial. They either lead us further into disillusionment or toward the oasis of authentic hope. Mark 9:23-24 resonates deeply in this context, a sincere plea for divine intervention in overcoming our unbelief.<\/p>\n

Misplaced hope or hope in the situation:<\/h3>\n