A Year 4 Transformation: Day 26-Overcoming Doubt

Passage of the Day:

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. ⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.  ¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” ¹² “Where is this man?” they asked him,“I don’t know,” he said, John 9:1-12.

Reflection:

Whenever individuals are born with a severe defect or endure a major medical emergency, it’s not uncommon for some to believe that God is somehow punishing you with this infliction. This is why the disciples ask Jesus a question at the beginning of this passage. Did this blind man’s father or mother sin? Or did karma come to pay back this blind man what he deserved? Once you overcome this initial ungodly belief, turn your attention toward the real culprit, overcoming doubt.

Prayerful Action:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, James 1:5-7.

Renewing Your Mind:

I lost a losing battle to stuttering for over two decades before finally making progress. The man in today’s featured had never seen what he looks like nor any image of the earth. At some point in life, doubt creeps in by planting subtle lies within your mind like “I’ll never be able to express myself or never be able to see.” The opposite of doubt is believing that God has the power to change your situation. Healing comes as minds begin to expect a movement of the Holy Spirit to do something supernatural. Overcoming doubt begins by reading the promises of God from the Bible and claiming these for your own personal life in prayer.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

During my final season coaching Little League baseball, 10–12-year-old boys, this team started the season losing ten straight games. Before my players took the field, doubt and losing consumed their thoughts. Before we won our first game of the season, I played the attached song during a practice. The chorus compares ones and zeros on earth to “the beautiful incomplete.” May this song help you realize that doubt is merely a stage in life that you go through until the power of the Holy Spirit gives you the confidence to finally overcome doubt.

by Jay Mankus