Reassurance over Doubt

When Our Hearts Need Reassurance

In the Scripture we are looking at today, John wrote to his readers who where apparently struggling with doubt. John reminds them that God looks beyond our failures to the true intent of the heart. These words of truth are just as relevant for us today as they were for John's readers.

"This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him". (1 John 3:19-22)

When we wrongly see ourselves through the lens of doubt, self-condemnation, or wrong thinking, God sees us through Christ's righteousness. Christ took on our sin so that we may become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Meditate on that. Because of Christ, we can walk in victory over doubt. It is good news to trust the finished work of Christ. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1)

When we abide faithfully in Christ, His assurance will bloom within us, which allows us to pray in faith according to God's will. Prayer, in this way carries a promise: "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what. pleases him" (vv.21-22). When we keep his commands, God takes pleasure in answering the prayers that are offered from an obedient heart.