Faith Amid Doubt: Standing Firm in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Brings Peace Amidst Trouble

Life often brings seasons of hardship and doubt, even for those who have walked closely with God, like John the Baptist. In moments when we feel overwhelmed or question God’s presence, we are reminded that Jesus never promised a trouble-free life, but He did promise His peace. When the world feels heavy and uncertainty creeps in, remember that Jesus has already overcome every trial we face. His victory is our assurance, and His peace is available to us even in the midst of chaos. Hold on to this truth: you are not alone, and your struggles do not mean you are forgotten. [44:55]

John 16:33 (ESV)
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Reflection: When you face a difficult situation this week, how can you intentionally pause and invite Jesus’ peace into that moment instead of letting anxiety or doubt take over?

Day 2: Stand Firm in Faith and Righteousness

There will be times when the world seems determined to pull you down, when criticism and negativity surround you, and when it feels easier to give in or walk away. Yet, God calls you to stand firm, to put on the full armor He provides, and to remain steadfast in your faith. Standing firm is not about never feeling weak or uncertain, but about choosing to trust God’s strength over your own. When you have done all you can, keep standing—rooted in truth, righteousness, and the assurance that God is with you. [56:45]

Ephesians 6:13-14 (ESV)
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel tempted to give up or compromise your faith, and how can you “stand firm” in that area this week?

Day 3: The Holy Spirit Will Give You Words

When you are questioned about your faith or find yourself in situations where you don’t know what to say, God promises that you are not left alone. The Holy Spirit will teach you and give you the words you need in the moment. You don’t have to rehearse every response or worry about defending yourself; instead, trust that God’s Spirit will speak through you. This is an invitation to rely less on your own wisdom and more on God’s presence, allowing Him to use you as a vessel for His truth and love. [01:01:06]

Luke 12:11-12 (ESV)
"And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Reflection: Think of a recent or upcoming conversation where you feel nervous about sharing your faith—how can you practice trusting the Holy Spirit to guide your words instead of relying on your own preparation?

Day 4: Surrendering Self to Follow Jesus

Following Jesus is not just about receiving His love and peace; it also means surrendering your own desires, ambitions, and pride. True discipleship costs us our self-centeredness, requiring us to lay down what we hold most dear so that Christ can be fully formed in us. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to let go of control and trust God with every part of our lives. The rich young ruler struggled with this, and so do we, but the invitation remains: will you give up yourself so that He can be everything in you? [55:33]

Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Reflection: What is one specific desire, habit, or area of control you sense God asking you to surrender to Him today, and what step can you take to begin letting go?

Day 5: Live Well and Speak Well as Light to the World

Your life and your words are a testimony to those around you, especially in a world that loves to debate and find fault. Living well means embodying the wisdom, love, and righteousness of Jesus, not just in what you say but in how you respond to criticism, adversity, and misunderstanding. Speaking well is about letting your words be guided by grace and truth, even when you are provoked or misunderstood. As you live and speak in this way, you become a light—showing others the reality of Christ through your actions and your attitude. [01:05:55]

Philippians 2:14-15 (ESV)
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Reflection: In what situation this week can you choose to respond with grace and wisdom, rather than frustration or argument, so that others might see Christ’s light in you?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the story of John the Baptist, a man who knew Jesus from before birth, who witnessed the Spirit descend at Christ’s baptism, and yet, in the darkness of prison, found himself wrestling with doubt. Even the greatest among us can have moments of uncertainty, especially when life’s hardships press in. John’s question—“Are you the one, or should we look for another?”—is not just his; it echoes in our own hearts when we face suffering, disappointment, or fear. Jesus’ response is not condemnation, but assurance: “Blessed is the one who does not fall away.” In the midst of trouble, we are reminded that Christ has overcome the world, and we are called to hold fast, even when the way is hard.

There is a temptation to compare ourselves to the saints of Scripture, to feel unworthy or out of place. Yet, the stories of John, Paul, and the early church show us that faithfulness is not about never doubting, but about standing firm in the face of adversity. The call is not to a life free of trouble, but to a life marked by perseverance, surrender, and righteous living. Jesus and John both faced criticism from those who would never be satisfied—people who found fault not because of the message, but because surrendering self was too costly. The world is full of those who will always find something to complain about, but we are invited to rise above, to put on the full armor of God, and to stand firm.

Living well in Christ is not just about embracing His love and peace, but also His righteousness. It means surrendering our desires, our pride, and our need to be right. It means responding to adversity and accusation not with anger or debate, but with the wisdom and gentleness of Christ. When we are called to give an answer for our faith, we trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words. Our lives become a testimony—not just in how we live, but in how we die to self, how we endure, and how we love. The challenge is to let go of the need to control, to debate, or to be satisfied on our own terms, and instead to surrender fully to Christ, living and speaking well for His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Even the strongest believers can experience doubt, especially in times of suffering or uncertainty. John the Baptist, who knew Jesus intimately, still questioned in his darkest hour. This reminds us that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the decision to seek assurance in Christ and to hold fast to Him when life is hard. [41:18]
2. The world will always have critics who are never satisfied, regardless of how the truth is presented. Both John and Jesus faced rejection from people who were unwilling to surrender their own desires. True discipleship requires us to rise above the noise of complaint and criticism, focusing instead on living out the wisdom and righteousness of Christ. [52:16]
3. Surrender to Christ is costly—not in money, but in the giving up of self. Salvation is free in that we cannot earn it, but it demands everything from us: our desires, our pride, our very identity. The rich young ruler’s story warns us that following Christ means letting go of what we hold most dear, trusting that what He offers is greater. [55:05]
4. Standing firm in faith is an active, daily choice. We are called to put on the full armor of God, to stand our ground when evil comes, and to remain steadfast even when we have done all we can. This perseverance is not passive endurance, but a courageous, disciplined commitment to live and speak well for Christ, regardless of opposition. [57:06]
5. Our witness is most powerful when we respond to adversity with the wisdom and gentleness of Christ, not with debate or anger. The Holy Spirit equips us to answer when challenged, and our lives should reflect the love, humility, and truth of Jesus. Living well means dying to self, letting Christ be seen in us, and trusting God to use our faithfulness for His glory. [61:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:56] - Upcoming Fellowship Events
[39:08] - Scripture Introduction and Bible Habits
[40:55] - John the Baptist’s Doubt
[42:32] - John Baptizes Jesus
[43:18] - John’s Imprisonment and Doubt
[44:55] - Jesus’ Assurance: Overcoming Trouble
[45:58] - Early Church: Living and Dying Well
[47:33] - Jesus’ Miracles and John’s Question
[48:09] - “Blessed Are Those Who Do Not Fall Away”
[50:00] - The Crowd’s Expectations and Criticism
[52:16] - The Challenge of Righteous Living
[53:51] - Surrender and the Cost of Discipleship
[56:45] - The Armor of God: Standing Firm
[58:20] - Jesus’ Temptation and Responding Well
[59:40] - Living Well as Light to the World
[61:06] - The Holy Spirit Gives Us Words
[62:52] - Faithfulness Amid Doubt and Debate
[65:55] - Living and Dying Well for Christ
[66:56] - Preparing for Communion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 11:2-6 (ESV) — > Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

2. John 16:33 (ESV)
> I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

3. Ephesians 6:13-14 (ESV)
> Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Observation Questions

What question did John the Baptist send his disciples to ask Jesus while he was in prison, and how did Jesus respond? (Matthew 11:2-6; [43:18])
According to John 16:33, what does Jesus say we will experience in this world, and what encouragement does He give? ([44:55])
In Ephesians 6:13-14, what are believers instructed to do when facing evil or hardship? ([56:45])
The sermon mentioned that both John the Baptist and Jesus faced criticism from people who were never satisfied. What were some of the reasons people criticized them? ([51:35])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think John the Baptist, who had such a close relationship with Jesus, still experienced doubt while in prison? What does this tell us about the nature of faith and doubt? ([41:18])
Jesus says, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” What does it mean to not “fall away” or be offended by Jesus, especially in times of suffering or disappointment? ([48:09])
The sermon talks about the cost of surrendering to Christ—not in money, but in giving up self. Why is this surrender so difficult, and what might it look like in everyday life? ([55:05])
Ephesians 6 calls us to “stand firm.” What does it look like to actively stand firm in faith, rather than just passively enduring hardship? ([57:06])

Application Questions

Think about a time when you experienced doubt or uncertainty in your faith, especially during a hard season. How did you respond? What helped you hold on, or what would you do differently now? ([43:18])
The world is full of critics who are never satisfied, just like those who criticized John and Jesus. How do you usually respond to criticism or negativity about your faith? Is there a way you could respond with more wisdom and gentleness, as Jesus did? ([51:35])
The sermon says that surrendering to Christ means giving up our desires, pride, and need to be right. Is there something specific in your life right now that you sense God is asking you to surrender? What would it look like to take a step of surrender this week? ([55:05])
Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the full armor of God and standing firm. What are some practical ways you can “put on the armor” in your daily life? Are there habits or disciplines you want to start or strengthen? ([56:45])
When you are challenged or questioned about your faith, do you tend to get defensive, debate, or withdraw? How can you trust the Holy Spirit to give you the right words and respond with humility and love? ([01:01:06])
The sermon challenges us to “live well and die well”—to let our lives be a testimony of Christ’s love and truth. What is one area where you want your life to better reflect Jesus, especially in how you handle adversity or criticism? ([01:05:55])
Some people will never be satisfied or convinced, no matter what we say or do. How can you let go of the need to control outcomes or win arguments, and instead focus on being faithful and loving in your witness? ([01:03:51])

Sermon Clips

The more we think about those things that bring us down, the more we can sit and wallow in pity. Jesus said, don't fall away. Stay strong. Stay strong. Stick it out, you're almost home. Have faith, you have lived well, die well. [00:49:24] (27 seconds) #embracerighteousness

See, I love that we always say salvation is free. I don't have to pay anything for it physically, I mean monetarily, but it is not free. I have to give myself. I have to give over my desires. I have to give over the core of the humanness that I am. My selfishness over. For someone else for God to handle that cost was way too much for the rich young rule. [00:55:05] (40 seconds) #standfirminfaith

People are always looking for ways to find faults. I tell you, my grand. I love my grandmother saying people would complain if their ice water were cold and they asked for ice water. You give it to them and it's never going to satisfy them because they love to pick things apart. And when you are in the presence of those people, and that is often the world, they are just trying to complain and it brings us down and we can get caught up in it or we can rise above it. [00:55:59] (35 seconds) #scriptureresponse

``When you've done everything, when you have done everything in your life, stand firm. Jesus didn't waver. John was teetering. And the Scripture says, don't teeter, stand firm. [00:57:21] (19 seconds) #liveandspeakwell

Each time that we see the temptation, his response is not out of anger. His response is simply directly supporting the reason why he will not quoting scripture. Ugly is never pleasing. If Christ knew that Satan was going to end, he could have shared that with him right then. But he already knew it. Instead of being ugly, he supported it. He kept the high road, reminding us that there is a way that we are to live. We are to live and speak well. [00:58:54] (40 seconds) #steadfastfaith

Don't start rehearsing it now. Well, this is what I'm going to say. This is what I'm going to say. If I'm ever in that position, this is what I'm going to say. Because God doesn't care what you have to say. That's why he gave us his spirit. He's like, I know what to say. Let me speak. [01:01:29] (22 seconds) #surrenderfully

When I am at my wit's end. And I want so much for you to believe that I lose control in a debate. Neither one of us are going to hear each other speak the words of Christ. Allow people to come to you. Live well so that if the need causes in this world for us to die, that we die well, speaking nothing but the love of Jesus, him crucified and our sacred selves died to self. For that is what we live for. We live for him to be seen to seem risen. And that is my friend, our challenge. [01:05:18] (49 seconds)

So my question to you today is, are you in doubt or are you one of those who are just never satisfied? God says, let's get it together. My word is all that you need, but it's not free. Are you willing to surrender your very core fiber to be all that I've asked you to be? [01:06:07] (27 seconds)

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