Doubt and unbelief: Where the prince of darkness rules
Even a little bit of doubt about God’s perfect leading in your life allows the darkness of unbelief to come in. The prince of darkness rules in this darkness and he doesn’t want a good life for his subjects. It does not take long before the darkness of doubt and unbelief becomes the darkness of despair, leading to a dark and evil cycle in your thought life.
You must take it very seriously if you notice that the spirit of discouragement wants to come in, because God has not given us this spirit. (2 Timothy 1:7.) This spirit will make it impossible for you to serve God.
Wisdom is first of all pure, we read in James 3:17. It is pure from the darkness of unbelief and doubt. When Saul started to doubt Gods perfect guidance in his own and Davids life, an evil spirit came into him. He did the most foolish thing in this satanic darkness and as a result his greatness and his joy left him forever, and he wasn’t worthy to be king anymore.
Doubting God’s perfect guidance in their own lives, and in others’ lives, has led many people to become bitterly jealous and has resulted in murder and all kinds of misery. It leads to grudges, worrying, conflicts and unrest. You will have no peace, no rest, when you give in to doubt and unbelief.
Faith: God’s sunshine
The smallest spark of faith opens the heart to God’s sunshine, and darkness has to make way for the light. Faith in God’s perfect guidance leads us into a blessed rest, peace, and joy. It becomes easy to leave everything up to Him who judges righteously, and we are spared much suffering and much evil.
If Saul had understood to leave everything up to Him who judges righteously, he could have been truly happy when David was more honoured than himself after a victory in the battle against the Philistines. (1 Samuel 18:7.) He would have remained king, and he would have had a glorious, fruitful fellowship with David. Saul could have praised the Lord and rejoiced together with David, and he could have had much glory out of his life. But the prince of darkness, who has come to murder, to steal, and to destroy (John 10:10), managed to destroy his whole life.
Nothing that is in darkness can overcome the light. It is wonderful to be forever freed from the terrible powers of darkness and the evil circle of a dark thought life. Now our thoughts can be on everything that is good. Abraham believed God, and because he believed, the blessings that came over him were as many as the stars in the sky and the sand of the sea. (Hebrews 11:12.)
It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), but if we believe and obey Him, we please Him so much that His blessings are without end; they are more than you can imagine with your natural understanding.
Jesus is coming soon to receive glory and praise from all who believed and obeyed His gospel. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10.) He will share His inheritance with them.
“Your way is perfect, LORD ...” says David in Psalm 18:30 (CEV). Let us believe that!
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good ...” Romans 8:28 (ESV). Let us believe that!
“And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT). Let us really believe that and rejoice over it!