To Counsel the Doubtful

  "To counsel the doubtful" is a lofty-sounding goal that might put most of us off from attempting to do it at all.  But I am not one of those who thinks that the spiritual works of mercy apply to some of us and not all of us.  All of us, I believe, are called at various times to counsel the doubtful in the same way that we are all called to instruct others in the faith to the best of our abilities.
  Who has not been doubtful about their faith at some point in their lives?  I certainly have.  Satan loves nothing better than to bring doubt to our minds.  Isn't that what he tried to do with Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11)?  Satan said, "If you are the Son of God, . .  ."  Starting off with "if" was meant to sow doubt.  Obviously Jesus didn't need anyone to counsel him away from doubt, but he had just come off of 40 days of fasting and prayer.  Plus Jesus was well versed in the Word of God.
  Doubt about our faith does not come from God.  When we come across someone who is doubting, what should we do?  Let's take them in the reverse order of what Jesus did with Satan's temptation.  Remind them of what Scripture says.  Pray with and for them.  Fast for them.  And if we need to refer them to someone who can answer their questions more completely, we can do that too.
  The same approach works if we are the one who is doubting.  Read Scripture, pray, fast, consult an elder in the faith.
  For Reflection:  Times of doubt come and go.  What do I do when I am doubtful?  When I come across someone who is doubtful, what is my response?
  Let us pray.  "I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.  Save me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues" (Psalm 120: 1-2).

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