Have You Ever Doubted God?

 by Barbara Latta

I don’t like snakes, but I know people who do. They like snakes because these people are experts and know the nature of the reptile. This knowledge keeps the handler from getting

caught off guard by any attacks.

Adam and Eve were placed in a perfect environment. God walked and talked with them and gave the couple everything they needed for physical enjoyment and nourishment. They lacked nothing.

Then a snake appeared.

Yes, God had created the snake also, but it wasn’t created as a deceiver. Satan entered the animal. Adam and Eve had walked and talked with God and should have been familiar

Have you ever doubted God?

enough with His nature to recognize a voice that was not His. They were caught off guard by the attack because they didn’t listen to the voice of God.

Subtlety, lies, deception. Whispered words through the leaves of a tree that held luscious food.

The voice of doubt was introduced into the Garden. He didn’t come at them as something ugly and scary. The animal was beautiful because when God created snakes they weren’t slithering on the ground lying in wait to grab prey. Since the couple had lived in the garden, they had fellowshipped with God. Adam had named all the animals. Mankind was God’s highest creation. His intelligence was beyond what we can comprehend today because sin has degenerated humanity. Maybe Adam and Eve also fellowshipped with the animal kingdom. I often wonder about that because Eve didn’t seem to be surprised that snake was talking to her. But the words he said were different than anything she had heard before.

The words that went into her mind caused her to doubt the words her Creator had said.

Sin began with doubt.

She reached out and took the fruit. She saw it, held it, and believed the lie. She took a bite and mankind fell. All because of doubt.

Adam had the power to cast the snake out of the Garden. God had told the man He made to take dominion and subdue. But because Adam didn’t do that, doubt is the snake that is still in the garden. Doubt didn’t leave the earth but took hold and continues to deceive people.

Have you ever doubted God?

Sin began with doubt.

I have when I worry. Worry means I am not trusting God.

I doubt when I fear. Fear is not of God because fear causes torment.

I doubt when I don’t forgive. Christ has forgiven me, so He has given me the power to forgive others. When I don’t, it means I am doubting His power in me.

When I get angry, I am doubting God’s power to give me self-control.

The voice of doubt will say, “Maybe my kids will stray, maybe we won’t have our needs met; if God loved me this bad thing wouldn’t have happened.” The voice of doubt plants seeds to cause us to stray from our heavenly Father.

Yes, sin began with doubt and continues as the weapon Satan uses. If he can get us to doubt God’s Word, we fall prey to temptation.

But believing God chases doubt away.

For worry - Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

For fear - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

For unforgiveness - Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do (Colossians 3:13).

For self-control - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

For anger - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

For loneliness - I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b).

For provision - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

Our Garden of Eden is the place where our soul fellowships with God. Where He walks with us in the cool of the day and tells us of His love.

When God is in the garden of our soul, the snake leaves and has no power.

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Doubt is thesnake in the garden (click to tweet)

Sin began withdoubt (click to tweet)