Day 8 – Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Doubt vs. Faith
Scripture Focus:
“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” — Mark 9:24 (NIV)
Recap of Days 6–7
Sis, before we dive in, let’s look at where God has already brought us:
- Day 6 (The Root of Doubt): We saw how doubt slips into our hearts like a seed planted by fear, trauma, or disappointment. Doubt distracts us from Jesus, divides our minds, and eventually drowns our faith. The truth we learned? The storm isn’t the real enemy — doubt is.
- Day 7 (The Cost of Doubt): We faced the reality that doubt is not harmless. It has a price. It costs us answered prayers, peace, stability, and missed opportunities. We declared that we would not keep paying the high cost of unbelief, but instead walk in the reward of faith.
Now here on Day 8, we move into the heart of the struggle: the constant tug-of-war between doubt vs. faith.
What is Doubt?
Doubt is hesitation in the face of God’s promise. It is uncertainty about God’s ability, His timing, or His love for you. Doubt doesn’t always scream; sometimes it whispers. It says:
- “I know God can… but will He do it for me?”
- “I’ve failed too many times… maybe I don’t deserve His help.”
- “What if He doesn’t come through this time?”
Doubt is dangerous because it makes us double-minded — torn between trusting God and trusting ourselves. James 1:6–8 warns us: “The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
For the women of Encouraging Her Resilience, doubt often grows out of lived experiences: broken promises from people we trusted, trauma that left deep wounds, or disappointments when prayers didn’t seem to be answered. Those wounds can shape how we see God — if we’re not careful, they make us question His goodness.
What is Faith?
Faith is the opposite of doubt. Faith is absolute trust in God — even when you can’t see the outcome. Faith doesn’t mean the storm isn’t real — it means you choose to keep your eyes on Jesus through the storm.
Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Faith is not passive. It’s active. It requires you to:
- Speak God’s Word over your situation even when it doesn’t look different yet.
- Walk in obedience even when it doesn’t feel easy.
- Trust His character more than your feelings.
For the women of Encouraging Her Resilience, faith looks like:
- Choosing sobriety every day even when cravings rise.
- Leaving toxic love behind and trusting God will fill the loneliness.
- Praying over your children even when you don’t yet see change.
- Walking in your calling even when fear says you’re not enough.
The Wrestle: Doubt vs. Faith
Mark 9:24 shows us the reality of the wrestle: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
That father was honest — he had faith, but doubt was still present. And that’s where many of us live:
- We believe God can heal… but we doubt if healing is really for us.
- We believe God provides… but we doubt when the bills keep piling.
- We believe God loves us… but we doubt because of our past mistakes.
This wrestle is exhausting. Living in the middle keeps us unstable. It drains our prayers and weakens our walk with Christ.
The Danger of Wrestling Between the Two
Sis, hear me: when you wrestle too long between doubt and faith, doubt will try to take over. That’s the enemy’s plan — to keep you wavering until you settle in unbelief.
The danger is real:
- Your prayers lose power because doubt makes you pray without expectation.
- Your spirit loses peace because you’re pulled in two directions.
- Your purpose loses momentum because hesitation keeps you from moving forward.
Faith anchors you. Doubt tosses you like a wave. You can’t walk steady with God while holding hands with both.
Examples of Doubt vs. Faith
- Addiction:
- Doubt: “I’ll always relapse; I can’t do this.”
- Faith: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
- Identity:
- Doubt: “I’m too broken to be used by God.”
- Faith: “I am God’s masterpiece, created for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10)
- Healing:
- Doubt: “The trauma is too deep; I’ll never really recover.”
- Faith: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
- Provision:
- Doubt: “I’ll never get ahead; my life will always be hard.”
- Faith: “My God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.” (Philippians 4:19)
Lesson for Today
Sis, today’s lesson is simple but life-changing: you cannot afford to wrestle forever. At some point, you must decide. Will you keep paying the cost of doubt, or will you step into the reward of faith?
Faith will not eliminate storms — but it will anchor you in the One who speaks to storms and commands, “Peace, be still.”
Action Step for Today
- Write down one area in your life where doubt and faith are fighting for control.
- Be honest: what is doubt saying? What is faith saying?
- Choose faith. Write one scripture that speaks louder than the lie. Declare it out loud today.
Reflection Questions
- Where has doubt had too much power in my life?
- What has it cost me? (peace, blessings, answered prayers)
- What would it look like if I lived fully in faith today?
- Am I willing to surrender my unbelief to God and let Him strengthen me?
Declaration for Day 8
I refuse to live unstable and double-minded. Doubt will not control my mind, my prayers, or my future. I choose faith — radical, bold, unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. I believe His Word, I trust His character, and I know He will not fail me.
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