WE CAN TRUST GOD TO CONFIRM HIS WILL FOR US. 

SCRIPTURE | Judges 6:36–7:9 

CENTRAL TRUTH 

The best way we can deal with our doubts and unbelief is by exposing them—bringing them into the light. We don’t have to fear expressing our doubts to God. In fact, God already knows our thoughts, and taking our doubts to God through prayer helps us engage in dialogue with God to dispel them. 

KEY QUESTION 

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE OUR DOUBTS? 

KEEP IN MIND 

Many students struggle with wondering why God allows certain things to happen, and they question if doubt is a sin. They may wonder if God cares about their difficult seasons. If left untended, these doubts can lead them to doubt His existence. To do this would be living without faith, and without faith, we can’t know the Lord or please Him (Heb. 11:6). When an angel appeared to Zechariah, who was very old and childless, and announced he’d have a son (John the Baptist), Zechariah doubted that God could do it and said, “How can I know this?” (Luke 1:18). In other words, he asked, “How can I know this is even true?” He spoke from unbelief and God punished him for his doubt by making him mute. Yet, when an angel visited Mary, she responded with, “How can this be?” (Luke 1:34)—in other words, “How will this happen?” She couldn’t understand how, but she spoke in faith that what the angel proclaimed would somehow come to be. One response was sinful doubt; one response was a desire to understand. We can help our students know the difference. 

APPLICATION 

IN WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE ARE YOU TEMPTED TO RELY ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH INSTEAD OF GOD’S? 

THE WIN 

FOR THE STUDENT: God gives our students good gifts and talents. Some of them are athletic or musical; some of them are really good at leading other people and motivating them; some of them are good at solving problems. While God does gift students with strengths and talents, they pale in comparison to His. Rather than depending on their own strength, they can lean into God’s power for all their victories. 

FOR THE LEADER: Take some time to reflect on your strengths and gifts. How are you allowing God to use those? In what areas do you struggle with becoming prideful?