Doubt may be shameful to us, so much so that we don’t want to even admit that we have doubt. Sarah lied and tried to cover her doubt. She was confronted about her lie and then she probably felt deeper shame for lying about her doubt than she had felt about doubting. That is a lot of shame and fear to contend with.

But then here is the beautiful part – God still came through on what he said he would do despite her doubt and dishonesty. A year later her doubts would be irrelevant as she would be pregnant with the promised son Isaac. As time went on God, in His mercy, would take what could be shameful and made it a point of glory for himself. He is still in this business of redeeming that which is shameful for his glory.

His faithfulness and mercy in the wake of her failure made that failure a testimony of his kindness and grace.

Your doubts are not the end. Even your doubts can be redeemed. Place your hope in the God who can address your doubts and let that hope sustain you in faithfulness to the God who can make shameful things glorious…. And don’t lie about your doubts, it only makes things worse.

Are your doubts a secret? Is there anyone you can share your doubts with and be encouraged? Have you told God about your doubts through prayer? He is not surprised by them and will lovingly handle them (Psalm 139).