Doubt can be a debilitating force, especially when it creeps into your life unexpectedly. It can feel like you’ve been cast into a dungeon, isolating you from hope and clarity. When you’re alone with your thoughts, the plans you once felt confident about can suddenly seem like missteps. This is especially true when catastrophic circumstances derail your life, allowing doubt to become your dominant thought process.
Have you ever felt like your “pockets were picked,” as if something went wrong with your plans through no fault of your own? Perhaps you were passed up for a promotion, found yourself facing personal despair due to a divorce, or are struggling with a health crisis. In these moments, doubt can become your personal prison cell, trapping you in a cycle of negativity.
Since many police officers are meticulous planners, and maintaining control is a cornerstone of their lives, it’s only natural that doubt makes an ugly appearance when the “ball of yarn comes unraveled.”
Consider John the Baptist, a pivotal figure in the Bible. Even he, the forerunner to the Messiah, experienced profound doubt while imprisoned by Herod. He had faithfully followed God’s instructions in preparing the way for Christ. Yet, his “reward” was imprisonment, leading him to question Jesus directly: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Luke 7:18.
From his prison cell, John likely questioned why Jesus wasn’t immediately dispensing justice and freeing the oppressed. After all, Jesus promised to “free prisoners,” but that promise didn’t seem to apply to John’s current circumstances. His struggle stemmed from a limited understanding of the context and depth of Jesus’ teachings. John’s experience highlights that even the most devout individuals can grapple with doubt in the face of adversity.
While it might offer little comfort to know you share something in common with John during your personal trials, understanding the root causes of doubt can be helpful. Doubt often originates from preconceived notions about:
In John’s case, he had two out of three wrong. In my experience, doubt is almost always triggered by a personal crisis, precisely where John found himself—imprisoned for his faithful obedience to God.
While it’s difficult to see the benefits of a crisis, whether large or small, there are two noteworthy possibilities:
Jesus affirmed John and reminded him of the “big picture” as well as his place in it. Will your crisis steer you toward a bigger picture (yet unknown) and your place in it?
In recent years, we’ve witnessed devastating hurricanes, massacres, and horrific fires. Furthermore, there are the heinous crimes reported everyday. While I do not want to minimize the pain experienced during each catastrophe, I also see the light of love displayed by people in these perilous times. John learned to be patient and understand there is more than here and now. These were vitally important elements to grasp since he ultimately died a martyr’s death at the hands of his captors.
If I didn’t believe in the existence of a good and sovereign God, I’d probably feel like a bitter person, full of doubt, who had his pockets picked on several occasions. Yet my faith has led me to re-check my pockets for the blessings that have been left behind. He’s placed purpose beyond my perception in the moment, and I’ve discovered his sufficiency has never failed when I’ve called out in doubt and duress.
While making your plans you can be certain they will be altered somewhere along the road. When that occurs, do you have anchors in place or will doubt appear? If doubt is “dogging you,” HANG ON! The sun will rise again!
Finally, I hope you allow your doubts to become building blocks to new priorities and either reaffirm or steer you to faith that answers difficult questions. You might find the help you seek at my author’s website, badge145.com.
Until next time, be safe!