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Dr. Bobby Harrington wrote an article entitled, "Is God Real? (http://www.gracecentered.com/is_God_real.htm)" for Grace Centered. Below is an excerpt and link to the full article. I'd love to see a discussion on it.

There are times when I wake up in the middle of the night and say to myself, 'what if I am wrong, what if there is no God?'"  My answer surprised Roberta.  She did not expect it because she thought that those of us who are in the ministry are so sure of our beliefs that we never doubt.  Roberta’s husband and I played hockey together.  One night a group of hockey players and our wives got together to socialize and have fun.  In the middle of a lively conversation, Roberta lowered her gaze, looked me in the eyes, and asked me the piercing question, "Do you ever have doubts?"  "Yes," I said, and then after my admission, I added, “I think every true believer experiences times of questioning.” 

Honest questions are good and healthy in the development of one’s faith.  When I face doubts, I just go back over all the reasons (personally, experientially, and factually) that lead me to believe in Jesus Christ and the Bible.  Upon reflection and review, I renew my faith and re-commit myself.  Such occasions are neither rare nor threatening for me.

The most interesting comment that night, however, came from Roberta.  As far back as Roberta could remember, she always considered herself to be non religious.  But after I told her how I handle doubt, Roberta made a confession.  "Well," she said, "I often wake up in the night with a question that I can't shake."  She became very serious and added, “sometimes I have grave doubts myself and I wonder, 'what if I am wrong?’"  Her words just hung in the air.  Then Roberta topped it off: "I am afraid that I might be wrong and that I might go to hell."  Rarely are people so honest.  Roberta was awakening to the fact that she had been pushing God out of her life for a long time. 

The Bible teaches that we all intuitively and subconsciously know that God exists.  As humans, our interaction with the created world somehow tells us that there is a God. Consider the following verses from the book of Romans.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.   (Rom. 1:20). FULL ARTICLE (http://www.gracecentered.com/is_God_real.htm)

Im ashamed to admit how many times i have doubted and how many times my faith starts to sink.

when it does

I think of  these bible passage's and  I  cry out to  Jesus in prayer  to  save my faith in him  and He  does.


Matthew 14:30-32

   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

I have to admit to sometimes having doubts when God continually fails to keep His promise in Matt. 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you." What does that mean since it obviously does not mean what it says?

I once had a pastor who said that it originally said, "Keep on asking." OK, if that is true, then how many years are we supposed to ask? What things are we not to ask for, and what things ARE we allowed to ask for so I don't waste my time asking for the wrong things--which I'm apparently doing?

I know He says not to seek riches, but is it wrong to want to be out of debt when you can't afford to pay your bills, or to want relief from pain and sickness? I KNOW I'm saved, but I don't understand why God doesn't hear or answer me. It's not because of sin since I can't think of anything I'm doing other than not being in a church (since I can't find one), although I know I haven't reached perfection yet.

With all due respect I read no more after this sentence I highlighted.

If that thought came into my mind upon waking -which tends to be a very vulnerable time - I would never think I was talking to myself. Never. I would know what was happening ---- I know the wiley ways of the enemy ---and that sentence would have been stopped in that instant.

I'm sorry to sound so bold --but when it comes to the enemy placing thoughts across the screen of my mind -- -I will not and do not tolerant them for even a second.

Doubt is a tool of satan's and that is all there is to it. Period.

The enemy's enemy,
Elaine


You can't control the birds that fly over your head - but you can control them making a nest in your hair.

Why on earth would it not mean what it says? To actually help you in a situation such as you find yourself in is actually difficult for, if I say to you, "Believe God's word", you will reply, "I have, but it didn't work." So now you just simply don't believe God's word [I don't say that to condemn, just as a fact].

I think the greatest single problem we have is unbelief. It germinates, and grows with such ease in our human minds. In fact the most single accusation Jesus had to his listeners was unbelief, even the 12.

I find there's a "faith" that the flesh tries to exhibit that usually amounts to nothing or, at most, very little. Yet there is a faith that is of God: Holy Ghost inspired, that accomplishes everything.

Is my faith of the 1st or the 2nd kind? Lord, help my unbelief.