Doubting Jesus

6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down...." Matthew 4:6

That question sounds vaguely familiar. During times of tragedy, there is always a question raised like it. If God is so good, then why....? Fill in the blank. Why is there war? Why so much destruction from hurricanes? Why so many cancer patients? At the cross, Jesus heard the question again. It was more like scorn at the time. "You can't even save yourself!"
And there at the top of the temple looking down, it seems that even Jesus had a bit of doubt. Does God really love me? Why am I so hungry? Why does it seem he requires so much of me? Will he really catch me if I jump? There's even a bit of scripture there to prod him along.
Then comes his Father's voice. "Don't test me. Trust in what you know." Again, Jesus mind is saved by scripture. His life as well.
We all hit low points. We look out at the state of the church in the world and see good things and bad things. And we wonder why things aren't better. Maybe we even start to doubt some of God's promises. The scripture we've known for so long becomes vague or twisted and we become confused. Then we go out and stand in our prayers before God. Maybe we berate him with why's and how could you's. We beg for some kind of sign to prove to us that He loves us, that He exists. A scene from the film, Forrest Gump, comes to mind. Lieutenant Dan is legless, on his boat during a storm. He screams at God, angry and depressed.
Once again, we can learn from Jesus actions. When we are tempted to tempt God, to prod and test him, we must recognize it and turn to His word. The doubts don't come from Him or anything He did. The doubts are all Satan's and our weak mind's. We know that God loves us if we believe His promises. If we believe that, then we believe His word. If that is true, then we have nothing to fear. Remember, doubts will rise, but God's word will never fall.