Hello Friends, 

Today’s post has been on my mind and heart for a few weeks now. It has been prompted by conversations I’ve had with my husband, family members, and the emails I receive from people wondering how to overcome the doubts they face about their salvation. 

I haven’t been very good about staying on top of the emails I get through this blog… but there are two things I receive emails about consistently:

1. Questions about modesty
2. Questions from people doubting their salvation

A few years ago, I shared my salvation testimony in this post. I was very open and honest about the struggles I’ve had in the past with doubts and I believe that post prompted many of the emails I’ve received about this topic. 

If you are someone who’s been doubting your salvation and are unsure what to do about it, then this post is for you!

What to Do If You’re Doubting Your Salvation

Make Sure you Have a Clear Understanding of the Gospel

The Gospel really is quite simple. We in our human minds and understanding tend to complicate it. But just in case you really are confused let’s talk about this:

– Salvation is by grace through faith ALONE. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

–  We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

–  God sent son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. (Isaiah 53:5)

–  It is through Jesus’s finished work on the cross that we can receive eternal life. (John 3:16)

–  Salvation is a gift – one we receive through faith and repentance. (Romans 6:23 and 1 John 1:9)

–  There is nothing we can do to “earn” salvation (Titus 3:5)

Has there been a time in your life when you have repented of your sins and asked the Lord to be your Savior? If yes, then God’s Word declares that you are a child of God!

If you have NOT done this, I would encourage you to make today the day of your salvation. Call upon the Lord with your mouth to confess your sins and ask Jesus into your heart. 

If you HAVE done this, but continue to face doubts about whether or not you are truly saved, then keep reading! 

Talk to the Lord about Your Doubts

One of my favorite Bibles verses in Psalms says to pour out your heart before the Lord (Psalm 62:8). You can share your doubts and fears with the Lord. Tell him your struggles in this area and ask him to reveal to you whether or not you are truly saved. Ask him to remove any doubts you may have and to strengthen your faith. You can share your deepest doubts and fears with the LORD, go to him and unburden your soul. 

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

Talk to a Born-Again Believer You Trust

If you continue to struggle, I would encourage you to find a Born-Again Believer (yes, this is important) that you can talk to. Maybe this is your saved spouse, a pastor, pastor’s wife, or other trusted mentor. You want to find someone who is strong in their faith and has knowledge of the Word of God. Someone who will magnify Christ over feelings. Someone who will help strengthen your faith in God, not weaken it. Share your struggles with this person and ask them to pray with you and for you. 

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

Immerse Yourself in the Word of God

Sometimes doubts come because we have not been faithful in our walk with the Lord and haven’t been spending time in His Word. If this is the case, then open your Bible and seek the Lord through Him Word. Pour over the Psalms, re-visit the Gospels, and ask the Lord to open your eyes to the Truths of His Word. Your faith will be strengthened by spending time in the Word of God.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Remember that Faith is a Choice not a Feeling

So many of us have learned to live and act on feelings. But feelings come and go. We ought to live by the facts of God’s Word. Something that helped me tremendously was knowing that God wants me to be sure of my salvation. He doesn’t want to me to doubt…. And HIs Word has given me (and you) all the tools we need to be sure of our salvation.

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2 Corinthians 5:7

Consider: Are You Prone to Anxiety? 

I have noticed a bit of a trend. Many people who struggle with doubts about their salvation are already prone to anxiety in many other areas of their life. Of course, there is nothing more important than knowing where we will spend eternity, so naturally, our salvation is an easy thing to worry about. 

I want you to consider whether your doubts are rooted in anxiety, or rooted in the fact that you are not actually saved in the first place. In other words, do you have a salvation problem or do you have an anxiety problem? Only you can truly know the difference. 

However, I think it is important to consider that if you have already made a profession of faith (or several) and continue to have doubts, then your doubts may simply be rooted in anxiety. Perhaps anxiety is the root issue than needs to be dealt with here. If that is the case, then once again, I would encourage you to talk with someone about this! 

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:6-8

Rest in the Promises of God

If, after some soul-searching, you believe you are already saved… then I want to encourage you to rest in the promises of God. The Bible assures us many times, that once a person has put their faith and trust in Jesus, they are sealed in Christ for eternity. There is nothing you can do to lose your salvation or taking yourself out of God’s hands!

Consider these Scriptures:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

Final Thoughts

I hope this post has been a help and encouragement to you! If you have been consumed by doubts, I hope the Word of God will fortify you with faith and confidence of your salvation in Christ. If you have come to the conclusion that you have not placed your faith and trust in Christ for salvation, I hope that you will make that decision today!

>>> For further reading, I would encourage you to look into the book Settled and Sure by Troy Carlson.

Feel free to leave any comments or questions below!