Day 7 – Tuesday, August 26, 2025

The Cost of Doubt

Scripture Focus:
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” — James 1:6–8 (ESV)

Devotional

Sis, doubt is not just a thought — it is a thief. It robs us of peace, steals our prayers, and costs us blessings we desperately need from God. James tells us plainly: when we doubt, we become unstable, tossed around like waves in a storm, and we shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.

That may sound harsh, but it is truth. Doubt has a cost.

Think about it.

Doubt costs us answered prayer. We ask God to provide, but we doubt if He really can — and so our prayer becomes empty words instead of bold petitions.
Doubt costs us stability. We move forward one day, then backwards the next. We proclaim freedom one moment, then rehearse fear the next. Doubt keeps us living in cycles instead of walking in victory.
Doubt costs us peace. Instead of resting in God’s promises, we live anxious, worried, and consumed by the “what ifs.”
Doubt costs us opportunity. How many open doors have we missed because we hesitated? How many blessings slipped by because we didn’t believe God would really do it for us?

How Doubt Creeps In

Doubt doesn’t come knocking on the front door with a loud voice. It slips in quietly, almost unnoticed. It creeps into your thoughts when you’re tired, when you’re hurting, when the storm is raging.

It whispers:

“God isn’t listening to your prayers.”
“After everything you’ve done, you don’t deserve His blessing.”
“What if He doesn’t come through this time?”

And if we entertain those whispers long enough, they shape the way we live. Soon we’re not just thinking doubt — we’re operating in it.

We pray, but don’t expect answers.
We move, but hesitate at every step.
We start building our lives not on God’s promises, but on fear of disappointment.

Sis, that’s the cost of doubt: it paralyzes our faith until we settle for less than God’s best.

The Truth: Faith Requires Trust Without Hesitation

The opposite of doubt is faith. And faith is not partial trust. Faith is not halfway belief. Faith is not, “Lord, I believe… but just in case, I’ll have a backup plan.”

Faith is all in. It’s believing God when the storm is raging. It’s trusting His Word when your feelings scream otherwise. It’s declaring His promises even when you don’t see results yet.

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” That means faith is not optional — it’s the foundation of walking with Him.

Faith is what allows the woman in recovery to say, “I am free,” even when temptation comes.
Faith is what allows the woman who left abuse to say, “I am safe in God’s hands,” even when memories haunt her.
Faith is what allows the woman overwhelmed by life to declare, “My God will supply all my needs,” even when bills stack high.

Faith without hesitation is the only way we break free.

For the Women of Encouraging Her Resilience

Sis, I know storms are real. Addiction is real. Trauma is real. Pain is real. But hear me: the God you serve is more real. His power is greater. His promises are stronger.

Doubt will always cost you more than you think. It will cost you time, joy, stability, and blessings. But faith will always reward you more than you imagined.

So today, ask yourself: Am I paying the cost of doubt, or am I reaping the reward of faith?

Action Step for Today

Write down one area in your life where you’ve been doubting God — healing, provision, relationships, or your future.
Next to it, write a scripture that directly speaks truth into that doubt.
Every time doubt whispers today, silence it by declaring that scripture out loud.

Reflection Questions

Where in my life has doubt been costing me blessings?
How has doubt made me unstable in my decisions, relationships, or faith?
What opportunities have I missed because of hesitation?
How would my life look if I truly trusted God without hesitation?

Declaration for Day 7

I will not pay the cost of doubt. My prayers are filled with faith, my steps are steady, and my heart is secure in Christ. I believe God’s promises over the enemy’s lies. I am stable, unshaken, and fully trusting in the power of my Savior.

Sis, remember: doubt is expensive. It costs too much to keep. Choose faith today.

We are still in Session 2: Breaking Free — Overcoming Fear, Doubt, and Past Pain in our Breaking Chains with Dashonia Marie series. Stay focused, stay resilient, and walk in faith.