Skeptical people struggling with doubts are really wrestling with me, even if they wouldn’t describe it that way. Have you encountered such people? This is more and more common and you can expect this trend to continue. Are you prepared to be my advocate for eternal truth when you encounter them? If you are it may feel like pinch-hitting in baseball, or tag-team wrestling. Start with what you know to be true and be prepared to be led by the Spirit in the moment. I’m always looking for people to be on my team. It may seem like they are wrestling with you but don’t take it personally.

My word tells you to examine yourself and to judge yourself. How well do you do this? Can you be sure that you are doing this well? Can you accurately evaluate your performance at evaluating your performance? Is it possible that others can see things in you that you can’t see in yourself? Do you see things in the lives of people you know that they don’t appear to be aware of? Is there anyone that you trust enough to ask for an evaluation of things present in your life that aren’t working for you; that are holding you back?

Are you persistent in pursuing answers for your questions? Are you asking the right questions? This part of the equation is not as often addressed as the matter of getting the answers right, but what is the value of the right answers for the wrong questions? What questions do you have? Do they address matters of eternal significance? Are they enduring questions for which it is not reasonable to expect definitive answers quickly? Are you comfortable living with unresolved questions?

You get to choose your own spirituality. No one can impose it on you against your will. Yet is there any decision that is more consequential? Your spirituality is your life orientation toward ultimate meaning and purpose, so everything hinges on getting this right. Can you do this from scratch? In other areas of life you have the advantage of those who have gone before so you don’t have to derive the principles of physics and civics and medicine on your own from first principles. This same principle applies to your faith as well.