The opposite of faith is not doubt but unbelief. Doubt is a part of all believer's journeys.
We all experience doubt in our life. If you ask any honest believer, they will admit, at one time, they doubted. One side of doubt can be a good thing because doubt is the question that asks: "Can I have more clarity." Doubt can also be the thing that motivates the desire to change. There is also the other side of doubt that can lead to unbelief. Let's look at it for a moment.
The first story that comes to mind is Peter walking out on the water to meet with Jesus. He is focused and responds to the command of Jesus to "come." Then he sees the waves, and it causes him to sink. Jesus is close enough to grab him and stop him from sinking. Jesus' response gives us a key to see.
Matt. 14:30-31 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
What caused Peter to doubt? The word for doubt in Greek is "Distazo." It means to duplicate, hesitate, have two opinions, and waiver mentally. Peter got distracted, and it opened the door to doubt.
The Apostle James describes this beautifully when he writes about believers asking for wisdom. When you ask, God gives liberally if you do not doubt. It would be best if you stayed focused on faith. Like Peter, we must not look at the natural circumstances but remain focused. Scripture states that we walk by faith, not sight - 2 Cor 5:7.
James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James calls a person that doubts a double-minded man. You allowed a duplication or another opinion to come and distract you. That is precisely what happened in the Garden of Eden. The enemy brought another word; now they had two things to look at: God's or the enemy's word. It doesn't take much for us to walk away from faith into a place of doubt.
The Bible is full of people that doubted. I would like for us to look at John the Baptist. He was a family member of Jesus. He had the call to make Jesus known and introduce him as the Messiah. When he sees Jesus coming to be baptized, he declares Jesus as the one that will take away the world's sins. Jesus calls him the greatest of all the prophets that came before him.
Matt. 11:11a "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.
Do you think that John ever doubted? He knew Jesus, he announced Jesus, and he had the revelation about Jesus' purpose. How can he doubt? When John was imprisoned for preaching against the king, he sent two disciples to Jesus with a specific question. Jesus just raised a dead boy, and the people were astonished at his ministry. John heard from his disciples about the things Jesus was doing. What would make him doubt?
Luke 7:15-18 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people." And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
John said that Jesus would be greater. "I come baptizing with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire." John, will you rejoice when you hear all these things, or will you doubt?
Luke 7:19-20 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'"
What a strange question. What other "one" might come? Who else are we looking for? Jesus is doing what you said he would do!
Luke 7:21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
John, why did you question Jesus? Did you get offended at something Jesus did? Was it because his ministry was more extraordinary? Was it because some of your disciples left and followed him instead?
Luke 7:22-23 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Jesus knew John got offended. The offense was a door for doubt. Here is another key for us. We get offended too easily. Offense is the door the enemy seeks to question God and mess with your faith. How often have you heard people ask: "If God is so good, why?" This kind of doubt is not to get clarity but question God's integrity. That is the wrong kind of doubt. It moved John from a place of revelation to an area of doubt.
Another example of people that got offended and doubted is the story of Jesus in his hometown. This time it led to unbelief, which happens when you don't deal with the doubt in your life.
Matt. 13:54-55 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
Familiarity always dishonors the anointing of someone's life. What they missed about Jesus is the power to bring change. Instead of receiving a miracle, they accepted the offense, and it limited the miracles that could take place. Be careful how you talk about the Pastor. Be careful how you speak about a brother or a sister.
Matt. 13:57-58 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
The enemy knows that if he can offend you, he can cause doubt to find a place in your heart. He is looking for things to distract you from a place of faith. Doubt eventually progresses to a place where you settle for unbelief. Unbelief will make you walk away from God.
Heb. 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.
If you doubt, ask the right questions. Find the truth in scripture that will deal with the doubt in your life. Focus on His Word and be set free - John 8:32.