I got baptised three months ago, and before I got baptized, I was so excited to learn more about God, read my Bible, and study Scripture. Now, months later, I’m struggling with intense doubts about God and the validity of the Bible; I’m losing the desire to read, and I have doubts about the existence of God that I already went through and had years before I was baptized. I even question if I’m truly saved. Deep down, I know I’m saved and have the changes in my life to reflect that, but these doubts are getting loud and unbearable. I fear this is genuine spiritual warfare, and I don’t know how to overcome it.
@Willow
Just a quick reflection.
It has been my exprience that people who have no relationship with Jesus rarely, if ever, spend time doubting it. The fact that you are experiencing anxiety is a strong indicator that you actually have something real to lose.
KP
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Willow—
Remember that the Serpent said to Eve “Has God said…?” One of the first things he did was to sow doubt in Eve’s mind about God’s intentions. And as KPuff said, (and it is very true), the fact you are being assailed by such doubts is proof the enemy is coming at you like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5).
But it is important to remember we walk by faith and not by sight. You can “feel” like you are losing faith, when in reality you are doing no such thing. Imagine if you were driving a car and your passenger shouted “You’re going the wrong way!!” You might jump for a moment as you “feel” the fright that is coming as a result of that roaring voice. But if you have a road map, and you have been watching the signs, you realize that your driving has nothing to do with feelings, or what someone yells—it has everything to do with the MAP and where it says you are. The Bible in many ways is like a MAP–it tells you where you are, and WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST. The enemy can come in and yell “THERE IS NO GOD!! YOU HAVE BEEN FOOLED!!” and scare you for a moment—but as you read the MAP (the Word) you KNOW you are on the right path, and that there is a God without a doubt. Here’s a good verse when we are filled with doubt, and think we cannot see:
"Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God". (Is. 50:10)
This verse is telling us that it is very possible for a true believer to "walk in darkness and have no light". And it saying that even though we are filled with doubt, and “feel” like we have lost our way—we need to trust in God and “stay upon Him”. The enemy can attack–but at the same time God can allow him to do this so that we learn to walk by faith–to strengthen us. God is allowing this to happen, just as a father teaching his child to walk. He may let go for a moment—but He is right there to catch you should you start to fall. God bless you Willow!!
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A friend of mine had the expectation that all her problems would go away once she was baptized. Not only did that not happen, but things got worse. The enemy of your soul can’t have you because you bear the seal of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)That doesn’t mean he can’t harass and oppress you and that’s what it sounds like to me. If we’re both right about that, then your role is to stand.
Begin by submitting to God. Confess any known sin in your life and acknowledge His Lordship over you. If you haven’t already, pray about what’s going on. Resist the doubts that plague you with the truth of God’s word. Have on hand appropriate verses that destroy those doubts. A doubt is a feeling and feelings are not facts. We don’t live by our feelings. We live by truth.
Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Be thankful. Think of what God’s done in your life that you can see and give Him thanks. Go over it in your mind and thank Him out loud. Play worship music in your home or whatever way works for you. Take your stand. Warfare is a battle that has ultimately been won by our Lord. Our role in the present day war is to stand in Him.
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These doubts are perfectly normal and yes it is part of spiritual warfare.
Your response should be simple, continue attending church, look at your doubts and research the answers to them.
There is nothing wrong with having questions or doubts about what one believes so long as one is searching for the answers and sites like coldcasechristianity, answersingenesis and winteryknight have plenty of articles that save us from re inventing the wheel..
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Sorry should have dealt with this.
Is there a God?
Depends where one is coming from. Look around what do you see? A room, furniture, out the window, buildings or a garden. How is it that they are there? Look further, there is the sun, moon, planets, stars etc. Look down at your hand, at the skin, muscles, nerves, blood vessels etc where did they come from?
Did everything come from, why is it here? Did it come from something or from nothing.
kalam cosmological argument = 1/ Everything that has a beginning has a cause.
2/ the universe has a beginning.
3/ Therefore something caused the universe to exist.
Now this doesn’t prove that here is a God, merely that something outside of time, and space caused it, but that to me describes God. Or do you prefer the idea that nothing caused everything!
I kept trying to highlight a statement I wanted to respond to, but then I realized it was the same answer for all of it. The Enemy. When someone makes a public declaration of faith through baptism, it represents a step into light. Scripture warns that the enemy often responds aggressively to new commitments.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Jesus explicitly noted that when someone receives the Word, “the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.” A spiritual attack isn’t a sign that your faith was fake. It’s often proof that it’s real and worth attacking.
Many saints in Scripture experienced deep doubt and heavy spiritual oppression after major spiritual highs. Elijah (1 Kings 19): Right after calling down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, Elijah collapsed in fear, exhaustion, and despair, wanting to give up.
John the Baptist (Luke 7:18–23): The very man who baptized Jesus and saw the Holy Spirit descend later sent messengers from prison to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus didn’t condemn John for his doubt; He gently reassured him.
Doubts often target our feelings and assurance. Your security rests in Christ’s finished work, not the intensity of your feelings on any given day. John 10:28–29: Jesus said,
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
To fight spiritual warfare, Paul highlights specific tools.
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
“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, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:11-17
Ephesians 6:16: “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Doubts and intrusive thoughts are often those “flaming arrows.” Attacks meant to cause panic rather than reflect her genuine heart. Fear not, doubt not; Jesus will be with you until the end of the age.
Peter
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Believe, believe, believe. The Bible does not lie. If you pray constantly, as the apostle Paul taught (1 Thessalonians 5:17), you will learn to recognize God’s voice, and he will solve all your problems for you.
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@Willow, I have just finished the first edit of a manuscript of a future book entitled right now Dealing with Doubters’ Doubts, and I came across your post. It sounds to me that God has you in mind for me to send you the manuscript for your reading and responses to me about it.
I would be very willing to send it to your email inbox if you want me to give it to you. All I ask is that if you gain value from it, you might like to give me an endorsement about how God helps you through it. What do you say?
This is spiritual warfare. You got excited about the Lord and started studying His Word and are now reading less because of all your doubts, even the old doubts? You drew their fire and are a target because you seek the Lord. Don’t listen to the doubts reject them. And absolutely do not stop reading His Word or Praying! That’s how they do it, whisper doubts in her head and get you reading less so that you wont grow and become really dangerous to the dark kingdom! Keep learning, keep applying yourself, pray for help. Read His Word and choose to believe it.
Oh, I see that you’ve already received this reply, Lol. Praise the Lord.