Ask Donnell: What Is Doubt And How Do I Get Rid Of It?

We received the following question from Roshawn;
"Good night Donnell,
I need to have a clear understanding of doubt from this perspective; Jesus spoke of us being able to move mountains if we don't doubt and we will have what we desire (Mark 11:22-24); the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16); all things are possible with God and we will do His works and greater works (John 14:12); and much more.
Jesus resurrected Lazarus so the disciples will believe. If a believer believes and wishes to do the same must he first get such an instruction from God? If he says "I believe God has given me the power through the Holy Spirit to do the same, so I will pray for person X to be resurrected" but then says in the blink of an eye, "- but I wonder if this is God's Will?" Is this doubt? And did he just blow the opportunity for the miracle to be performed? And finally how do you get rid of doubt from your life? - thanks Donnell"
Roshawn, this is a very deep and important question. We need all the help we could get from The Holy Spirit to get to the bottom of this one. Jesus said in John 17:17 that The Word of God is truth and in John 16:13 He called The Holy Spirit by another name; The Spirit of Truth who will guide us into all truth. The scriptures will surely provide the material but The Holy Spirit will guide us in the right direction. Over the years many interesting thoughts have been shared on this issue. Some were right. Some were wrong. However, the line between right and wrong can get a little blurry sometimes and keeps getting blurrier if we don't hold on to a fixed standard of truth.
I once heard a prominent speaker say that doubt is good. It's our doubt which drives us to ask questions instead of blindly accepting what we're taught. Once our questions are answered our doubt is removed and faith is strengthened. Only then can we stand firmly on what we believe. In other words, doubt is good because it's the key to us testing our faith on our own instead of pretending we believe and then falling apart under pressure. Think about that a little. His perspective sounded quite profound at the time but profundity is not our goal; truth is. We don't want the answer that seems right, we want the truth.
In fact, similar logic was also used by another speaker to say that fear is good. It's our fear which drives us to be cautious and think through the consequences of our decisions before making them. Great explanation but is it the truth? Can doubt or fear be good if the end result is good? Should we then be comfortable with a little doubt and fear in our lives since they are so useful? That's what they said. đ People's opinions and logical analysis alone can sometimes contradict Biblical truth so we should always be careful. The best sounding answer based in logic can still be the wrong answer if it's not the truth. Anyway, let's see what The Bible says.
Mark 11:20-24(NKJV) - Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, âRabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.â So Jesus answered and said to them, âHave faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, âBe removed and be cast into the sea,â and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
In this scripture, the Greek word used for doubt is "diakrinĆ" which in this context means; "to be at variance with one's self, hesitate." The same Greek word is also used in another place to mean; "to separate one's self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dispute, contend." It's also used in Romans 4:20(KJV) - "He staggered (diakrinĆ) not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" and Acts 11:2(KJV) - And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended (diakrinĆ) with him..
So from this definition, when you doubt you separate your mind into parts. One part of your mind thinks one thing while another part thinks something else. These different parts dispute and contend with each other causing you to hesitate. If your mind can't give a clear signal to your body there's no way for you to move in a particular direction. The internal mental battle caused by doubt actually paralyzes you. Until the dispute is settled you're going nowhere in the area that you doubt. Let's expand on this some more with another reference.
James 1:6-8(KJV) - But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (diakrinĆ). For he that wavereth (diakrinĆ) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
A doubter is likened unto a wave of the sea that moves with every wind that blows it. In other words a doubter is controlled by outside influences. The power to control that person's thoughts has been handed over to others. If a man can't control his own thoughts he is not a man of faith. If that's the case, nothing will work in God's Kingdom for that man because the entire Kingdom is activated by faith.
John 13:21-22(KJV) - When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
In this passage, the Greek word used for doubt is "aporeĆ" which means; 1) to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn 2) to be at a loss with one's self, be in doubt 3) not to know how to decide or what to do, to be perplexed
The same word is also used in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10(KJV) - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed (aporeĆ), but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."
To bring emphasis to the same meaning, the word "diaporeĆ" is used in Luke 8:7, Luke 24:24 and Acts 2:12 to mean; "to be entirely at loss, to be in perplexity."
This brings another dimension to the definition of doubt. When you doubt you don't know which way to turn, you're at a loss with yourself and perplexed. In other words, doubt leaves you hanging. It leaves you unsettled. Have you ever been lost before? I mean, really lost to the point where you've not only lost your sense of direction but you cannot decipher your current location. Do you remember that feeling? Well, that's how you feel on the inside when you're at a loss with yourself. You don't know your position and don't know where to turn, hence your doubting leaves you with an empty feeling. Let's continue to go even deeper now.
Matthew 14:25-31(KJV) - And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt (distazĆ)?
Last but not least, the Greek word, "distazĆ" means "waver". Why did Peter's miracle stop suddenly? One word; Doubt! If faith makes you superman, doubt is kryptonite. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on the water. However, doubt cut his faith short. If you are unsure of what you believe you're not really believing it. Now that you have a proper understanding of doubt let's answer your specific questions.
"I need to have a clear understanding of doubt from this perspective; Jesus spoke of us being able to move mountains if we don't doubt and we will have what we desire (Mark 11:22-24); the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16); all things are possible with God and we will do His works and greater works (John 14:12); and much more. Jesus resurrected Lazarus so the disciples will believe. If a believer believes and wishes to do the same must he first get such an instruction from God? If he says "I believe God has given me the power through the Holy Spirit to do the same, so I will pray for person X to be resurrected" but then says in the blink of an eye, "- but I wonder if this is God's Will?" Is this doubt? And did he just blow the opportunity for the miracle to be performed? And finally how do you get rid of doubt from your life?"
We already addressed Mark 11:22-24. Now let's address the reference to prayer in James 5:16. Pay attention to some specific details in the preceding and you'll see something interesting.
James 5:15-16(NKJV) - And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
The type of prayer being addressed in these scriptures is very important. This is not just any prayer but specifically, the prayer of faith. Romans 10:17 says "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Therefore, if you are praying in faith you are praying the scriptures and only the scriptures. What does that mean? The only way your prayer qualifies as a prayer of faith is if it is based in The Bible. You can confirm or deny if something is God's Will based on what The Bible says. So if you want to see results from your prayer you should be able to name the specific scriptures upon which you are standing in faith.
John 14:26(NKJV) - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Now let's look at the role of The Holy Spirit in all of this. If you store the scriptures in your heart (Psalms 119:11) He brings to mind exactly which scriptures you need at the time you need them. Once again, there is no faith outside of God's Word. You can't have faith in what you want, you can only have faith in what God said. However, without The Holy Spirit leading you, the scriptures are just a dead letter (2 Corinthians 3:6). You can quote them all you want like they're some kind of magic spell and nothing will happen if The Holy Spirit is not behind you.
Remember, even the devil quotes scripture and he tried to use that against Jesus. So did The Pharisees and they had absolutely no power. No Holy Spirit, no power! 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is "God-breathed". However, if you separate The Spirit from the scripture you take the breath out of the words. Therefore, they're just words without Him. You will only be able to have faith in God's Word when The Holy Spirit confirms which scriptures apply to your situation.
John 14:12-18(NKJV) - âMost assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. âIf you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you foreverâ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Why did Jesus say that we would be able to do the works He did and even more? One reason. He was going to His Father. Why was that so important? When He returned to His Father, He sent The Holy Spirit. Why was that so important? Instead of God being with us as Jesus, God could be in us as The Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 says; "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
The same Holy Spirit who gave Jesus the power to rise from the dead already lives in us. So the power to raise the dead is inside of every Christian. We just need our faith to rise to the level that it needs to be for us to make use of that power. Now let's get to your last question; "How do you get rid of doubt?"
We'll tackle this one in the next blog.