October 1, 2026
Eighteenth-century German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goeth once said, “Give me the benefit of your convictions, if you have any; but keep your doubts to yourself, for I have enough of my own.”
We all struggle with doubt on occasion in this crazy, sin-infested, fallen world in which we live. From minor matters like our team winning the game to significant issues such as salvation, we find ourselves muddling through the fog at one time or another. As we address this important issue, focusing specifically on Genesis chapter three, note the following:
The Source of Doubt- That would be the devil himself. Disguising himself as a crafty serpent, he questioned Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (3:1, NIV).
The devil is “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NASB). He told Eve, “You will not surely die by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” which was clearly a lie (3:4, NASB).
One of the main reasons so many in our society, believers included, wallow in doubt is because they’ve bought into Satan’s lies. Many feel as though God is holding out on them, or that they can live as they please without paying the consequences.
The Scope of Doubt- In Eve’s case, it started with confusion. She misquoted God by saying, “You shall not eat from it, or touch it, or you will die,” when nothing was said about touching (3:3, 2:17, NASB).
Confusion gave way to temptation, when Eve found the fruit a “delight to the eyes” (3:6, NASB). Next came destruction, when she, along with her husband Adam, ate the forbidden fruit. Their disobedience, referred to as “original sin,” triggered the fall of man. Initially, they were cast from the garden. Add to that the physical and spiritual death sentence they received, one which has been inherited by every person born from that point on.
Have doubts crept into your life, creating confusion, temptation, and perhaps even debilitation? You don’t have to live there. There is a way out.
Solutions to doubt- First and foremost, embrace the assurance that you are a believer and that you will go to heaven when you die. As the Word says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
Couple that with confidence. The devil is not only a liar, he’s a thief. Don’t let him rob you of the surety that God loves you and knows you better than you know yourself. “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward” (Hebrews 10:35).
Finally, strive to live in obedience. Find a church home if you don’t have one. Spend time in the Word and prayer. “Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1).
One night, a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to escape to the roof. Below, with arms outstretched, his father shouted from below, “Jump! I’ll catch you,” realizing this was his boy’s only chance of survival.
With the lad frozen in fear - covered in a blanket of flames, smoke, and blackness, the father continued to yell, “Jump! I will catch you.”
“Daddy, I can’t see you,” said the son.
“But I can see you and that’s all that matters,” assured the father.
You can’t see God, but He can see you. There’s no doubt about that.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
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