“Doubt is a common obstacle on the spiritual path.” Yogananda
Of course, it is perfectly natural to have doubts. In fact, doubt is a part of an intelligent and healthy life. Without a degree of uncertainty, there are no new discoveries. Yet, when doubt rules our lives, especially in a spiritual context, it paralyzes us, leaving us without awe, wonder, or transcendence. Doubt prevents us from moving in a new direction, taking risks, and trusting God’s goodness. Doubt creates passivity. Eventually, doubt leads to a sense of nihilism, because we have nothing to spur us to believe, trust, imagine, or transcend. Ignoring the heart, doubt bows to the intellect, to narrowness and fear. Like everyone, I have days when I am tempted to doubt. My first reaction is to be present to my doubt and curious about it. Then, I take my doubt into prayerful silence, waiting for the inspired wisdom and insight which will give me a path through. Finally and most importantly, I choose to live my life as though God is real, as though God is love, and as though God is intimately involved in human affairs. This “acting as if” or act of faith is more than mere self-talk; it is an antidote to doubt because it actually brings me into an intuitive knowledge of God’s existence. In these moments, we know that we know.
Brother Francis,
You prayed,
“Where there is doubt,
Give me faith.”
