Immediately after Christmas and New Year’s, many people face a period of faith-testing doubt. I know I have. For me, this manifests as a series of questions: What will I experience at work this coming year? What will the world look like? Will I be able to navigate the challenges that I could face?
The first reason for the season of faith-testing doubt is one you might expect: the fear of failure. When I fail, I often feel overwhelmed by self-doubt. I might lose my job. I might fail in my relationships. If I do, can I make it work again?
The other reason is actually counterintuitive: success. This doubt often follows a wonderful mountain-top experience. You just attended a life-changing event. For example, I had the privilege of officiating my oldest grandson’s wedding ceremony. Wow. What an awesome experience. All the anticipation, all the preparation, all the family, all the celebration…then it’s over. Pastor Rick Warren once put it this way: What do you do after you hit a grand slam? What do you do the next time you come up to bat? Great successes that bring great responsibilities also sometimes bring a real sense of self-doubt.
So, what do you do? Let me suggest some things that have helped me.
First, honestly identify your fear, without condemning yourself. Many faithful people in Scripture felt this, including Moses, Gideon, and Peter. God doesn’t rebuke honesty; He responds to it.
Next, anchor yourself in what God says is true, not how you feel. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Don’t spiritualize it away or beat yourself up.
Third, take the next faithful step…not the whole staircase. Self-doubt often paralyzes us because we try to see too far ahead. You might pray this prayer: “Lord, I don’t trust my self-assessment right now. I trust Yours. Help me walk by faith, not by feelings.”