Got Doubts?

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. [Psalm 94.19]

I hope no one ever has doubts. Doubt is a bad place to be. But the fact is, doubts come against everyone at some time or another.

According to Psalm 94.19, there is a solution for doubt: God's comfort. 

God's comfort is His Word. God's Word assures us of His character. God's character is comforting.

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. [Psalm 121]

To be very clear: if we are to have genuine hope and cheer in this life, it will come as comfort from God. It would appear that hope and cheer are possible without the comfort of God (like a happy drunk). But, it should be understood that it is impossible for the comfort of God to come without hope and cheer.

If the Psalms teach us anything, it is that to truly know God is to have His comfort that manifests in (gives) hope and cheer (praise). 

To know God is a testimony in and of itself. 

To know God is to know His Word. 

To know God's Word is to know Jesus.

Because Jesus came as a physical manifestation of all God's character, He said:

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. [John 14.27]

The "gift" Jesus spoke about in John 14.27 is the Holy Spirit given to dwell in us and remind us of everything Jesus said as God in the flesh.

We might see then that the opposite of genuine hope and cheer is trouble and fear. God's comfort does not give trouble and fear! The Holy Spirit does not give trouble and fear. Trouble and fear are never comfort from God.

Father, the value of Your Word - Your comfort - Jesus Christ - is immeasurable. As I am found "in Christ," I am found in the fullness of Your comfort and I have hope and cheer, not trouble and fear. So be it!