LISTEN TO GOD, NOT TO YOUR DOUBTS

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. Hebrews 11:7 (NLT)

The moment you take a step of faith related to your finances, family, career or spiritual growth—the moment you set any kind of goal—there will be people who say: Who do you think you are? It can’t be done; forget about it! They might be critics and cynics in the community. They might even be your friends and family. But the biggest doubts will come from the way you talk to yourself. You are the most influential doubter in your life. The question is whose voice are you going to listen to? Faith means listening to God’s voice and not the voices of doubt no matter whose they are. Just imagine all the doubters in Noah’s life. How would you like to be Noah’s next-door neighbor? That guy Noah, he thinks God speaks to him, but he’s just ruining all of our property values by building that boat in his front yard. And imagine the pressure Noah felt from his own family: Why can’t you just get a normal job. Everybody thinks we’re weird! The story illustrates how Noah listened to God. And what did Noah hear? God warned him about things that had never happened before—things that no one had ever seen or imagined. There had never been a flood. Genesis describes how the earth was watered by a mist that came up from the ground. Noah could have easily doubted himself. He could have dismissed God’s voice as a bad pizza from the night before. He could have second-guessed God’s instructions: I’m not so sure about this flood. But maybe I’ll invent the umbrella, just in case. Noah didn’t listen to the voices of doubt from without or within. In faith, Noah followed God’s instructions. Has God told you to do something you have never done before? Do what Noah did. Step out in faith. Listen to God, not to your doubts.