Praying Without Doubt

Many of us are used to relating to God in personal ways — as Father, Comforter, Friend… These familiar approaches are appropriate because God has invited us into an intimate personal relationship with Him. We can talk with Him whenever we want and about whatever we need. However, God is also the One who is high and lifted up, and His name is Holy (Isaiah 57:15). An encounter with Him in all His glory reduces us to speechless trembling (Daniel 10:7-9; Revelation 1:17). This is also appropriate because God is awesome in the truest sense of the word. His unveiled presence inspires awe, wonder, and a good dose of holy fear.

This is what the high and lofty One says – He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15)

Look at Abraham’s prayer in Genesis 18, the first prayer recorded in Scripture. As J. Vernon McGee states the exchange: Abraham opens his prayer with a dark question, but Abraham didn’t know anything about Sodom. All he knew was one day God told him He was going to destroy the city. And Abraham questioned God (Genesis 18:23). If God had not answered that question for Abraham, we today may as well bow down before a totem pole as worship a living God in spirit and in truth. Because the answer to this question is very important for Abraham and those coming after him. In fact, God said Himself that it was important for Him to clarify this issue (Genesis 18:17-19).

God enjoyed this interview with Abraham. God got great satisfaction out of His man coming to Him and pleading for others. God wants to save! He rejoices over one sinner that comes to Him (Romans 10:13).

Popular opinion today says that if you expect God to answer prayer, then you must have faith. “Just believe” as if faith were an Open Sesame that opens the door to anything you desire. There is no power in faith! Faith can be misplaced, put in the wrong place or in the wrong person. Just to believe is not enough. It’s where your faith is placed and whom you believe in that becomes all-important.

Abraham did not go to God in complete faith. He believed God heard and answered prayer, but he had some doubts about some matters. So he went to God with it in prayer. It’s no sin to have doubts, but do not hide them in the closet of your mind. Be honest about them and take them to the Father directly. Bring your doubts and questions into the sunshine of His presence. If you are honest about your doubts and go to God, you will come to a firmer faith the likes of which you’ve never experienced before.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does (James 1:6-8).

Because of these verses many believe that to doubt is wrong. But James isn’t saying that. The verses only point out that the one who prays to ask for something and doubts his prayer or the One he is praying to is the double-minded one. How can you pray in spirit and truth to someone you don’t trust? Verse 5 before that points this out.

If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously and to all/everyone without finding fault, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

So even God respects the doubter. We humans doubt, that’s been programmed into our nature. So we are to be merciful to those who doubt (Jude 1:20), especially ourselves. We have all been there at one time or another. But always remember: Feed your faith, and doubt will starve to death!