I believe God wants what is best for us, God cares about each of us individually, and He has a good plan for us. Over the past year, my spiritual journey had its ups and downs and at times, doubt would creep in my mind here and there to the point where I found it hard to believe I had written a blog called, “God is always good.” I would think to myself: “I know He is good, but the world isn’t. How can I trust Him when I experience things that are not good?”
My questioning led to a path of searching for answers from people and books, but most of those times, they would leave me feeling half full–I still could not trust the answers from a fallen world.
I don’t have all the answers to my questions, to the suffering around me, my searching heart. I may never have them… but what I do know is Jesus is real, the Son of God, He lived a perfect life on this earth, He innocently died as an atonement for our sins so we do not have to live a life of works and materialism, but of grace. I don’t have a clear cure for doubt, but I can share the song that immediately brings me through it with hopes that it encourages someone else.
When thoughts try to steal me away from Him, I say, sing, read, and think these lyrics:
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev’ry high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.
When these thoughts
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand
Sometimes my heart and mind get caught up in so many unanswered questions, wondering what is truly right. The one truth I can hold onto in this life is the truth of Jesus. The words of this song say that in a powerful tune:
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus‘ blood and righteousness
If you have questions, the truth of Jesus’ life and resurrection can help give you peace. There is nothing else that can take away from that truth–no doubt, no suffering– and I can rest in that.
1 John 5:13 says that those who believe in the Son of God have eternal life. It is my hope that the unanswered questions will be answered in eternity. I cannot put my faith in the search for answer to a question, but I can put my faith in Jesus.
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:26-29, ESV
Versions of the hymn are below. Also, consider reading The Case for Christ by Lee Stroebel, a journalist’s investigation into credible evidence of Jesus’ life and resurrection.
Norton Hall Band “My Hope is Built”
The Solid Rock by Reawaken (Acoustic Hymn)
The Solid Rock – from The Hymns Project (Lyric Video)
This is not The Solid Rock song but it holds a similar theme:
One Hope Project – In Your Truth – Lyric Video
View Comments (2)
Hi, my name is Glady from the Phils. Thank you for sharing your life and your encouraging thoughts and Scriptures you used. Year 2003 I became cold towards God and eventually stopped attending church, I also stopped reading the Bible. I went back to my old life and committed many sins. My life went ups and down, so many things happened with those years and just recently, I just felt so lonely and felt like God is telling me enough and come back to me. Then I decided to go back to God and made contacts with the church I used to go to. It is not easy to go back to my faith and to my love for God, my heart has become numb and at times I could not feel anything. I know I was the one who left God, God did not changed, but these feelings i was feeling was the result of me drifting away from God...but through patience and continuous effort on my part, I know God will bring back my heart. If you have the time, I need some words from you, right now I honestly need some encouragement from anyone especially those who has been with what I've gone through.
Hi, Glady! Thank you for your reply. Glad to hear this blog and the Scriptures in it are encouraging to you! Thank you for sharing your story. It sounds like you're saying your life has had many twists and turns, and at times it has felt lonely, numb, and disheartening. Know, sister in Christ, that you are not alone. Jesus said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We all have troubles. Our hope in these sorrows is that our God has overcome, He is with us, and our eternal hope and peace is set on Him. In times where you feel discouraged waiting on God, try praying the Psalms of Lament: Psalm 44, Psalm 60, Psalm 74, Psalm 79, Psalm 80, Psalm 85, Psalm 90. Know that you can wait in confidence on God to draw near because He promised He would: "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you" (James 4:8); "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). We are praying for you, Glady!