'I Doubt': John 4:1-11 (Faithfulness)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Faithfulness?

Read John 4:1-11:

"Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

What is God currently asking you to believe that, in all honesty, you find too difficult or unrealistic?

Write your answer in the space provided.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers' comments on John 4:11.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald asks:

"Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!”

How frequently do you have thoughts along these same lines?

Oswald states:

"When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality— that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another."

Do you agree?

Oswald continues:

"These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, “Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?” Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, “It’s easy to say, ‘Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water— no means to be able to give us these things.”

Concerning Jesus' ultimate power, how is your doubt being played out right now? Specifically, what beliefs or thoughts are you struggling with?

Oswald adds:

"And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, “Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself.” If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can’t."

Take a moment to consider what is being said here. How true are these statements of you?

Oswald observes:

"My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority."

Do you see the connection between your doubts of Jesus' power and your own sense of inferiority?

Take a moment to let this connection penetrate, then select 'Successful' when you are finished,

Oswald concludes:

"If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly— “Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it.”"

Take time now to confess your doubts of His power to Jesus. Pour yourself out to Him. You can do so privately, or in the space provided.

Is there anything you would like to thank or praise Jesus for?

If so, you can do so privately, or in the space provided.

How much has this Trail helped to increase your current level of faith?