Satan's original sin began with a lack of faith in God's love for him, leading to doubt that spiraled into pride, self-exaltation, desire for power, vanity, violence, and rebellion. This doubt in God's love was at the root of his fall, as he thought he could do better, rejecting God's authority. Similarly, when we doubt God's love, we reveal a mindset that we know better than Him, weakening our faith and challenging His nature as love. Trusting in the depth of God's love helps us avoid self-reliance and mistrust, which lead to destruction. Satan's failure to believe in God's love led to his downfall, and we must not make the same mistake at this late hour in God's plan for us.

Satan's iniquity stemmed from unbelief in God's love, leading to skepticism about whether God truly loved him. This lack of trust caused all subsequent iniquity, making individuals mildly skeptical about God's love. Such doubt erodes hope, endurance, and salvation, which depend on believing how special one is to God and how much He loves them. Forgetting how special one is to God causes damage, as lawlessness abounds and the love of many grows cold. Without faith in God's love, individuals cut themselves off from the true source of love, resulting in love growing cold. Those who no longer believe in their special relationship with God walk by sight and fail to endure to the end. In contrast, those who hold on to faith in God's love endure and are saved. During trials like the time of Jacob's Trouble, enduring requires firmly believing in how special one is to God and how much He loves them, even without physical signs of His love. Trials are supreme acts of love, motivated by God's loving nature, to perfect individuals for salvation. Doubting this love during discipline, like children who cannot see their parents' love in the moment, reflects immaturity and blindness to the big picture. Real love is God's love for us, and believing in it provides confidence, courage, and hope to face trials. Those who know and believe God's love abide in Him, becoming like Christ in love and endurance. Without this faith, individuals cannot triumph in trials as Christ did.

Doubt is a lack of confidence in God's power and will to accomplish what He says He will do. It is considering God's promises unlikely to be carried out. It is uncertainty about what His plans and purposes are for us. It is no less than distrusting what God tells us through His Word. Doubt is uncertainty about what we believe, which makes our supposed convictions no more than weak preferences. It is a deliberate suspension of good judgment. Doubt is no less than a lack of faith in God's goodness. Romans 14:23 shows us the essence of doubt. He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not of faith is sin. Hebrews 11:6 states that without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When we are doubtful of God's promises, we say that God's Word is dubious, problematic, and questionable. The synonym dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation with what we perceive God's will to be in our lives. The synonym problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, and fulfillment or realization is highly uncertain. The synonym questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt, but usually suggests that the suspicions are well grounded. If we think God's Word is dubious or problematic or questionable, we are calling God a liar. That is how doubt destroys our relationship with God. It puts us at odds with Him. Philippians 4:8-9 introduces the problems of regulating our conduct in the areas of life where the Bible is not entirely explicit. The first principle is do not obey human nature in its lust because your body is an instrument of righteousness to God. Romans 6:12-14 states therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. The second principle is that although something may be lawful for the Christian, all things are not helpful. I Corinthians 6:12 states all things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. I Corinthians 10:23 states all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me but not all things edify or build up. I Corinthians 10:24 states let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well being. The principle of the three that best helps to direct our conduct in doubtful areas is in Philippians 4:8. Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. Matthew 14:22-33 records an incident that is a sign and a symbol of what Jesus always does for His people when life is contrary and we are in danger of being overwhelmed by life's emotional storms. Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. So He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? The story teaches that we will only grow strong in faith when we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, the Source of our faith, and do not turn aside to fret over threatening circumstances. Jesus' reprimand in verse 31 is not for Peter's impetuous faith, but it is for his vacillating faith once he had started out. It is as if Peter had said, using the words of the apostle Paul to the Philippians

In our journey with God, we often grapple with moments of doubt, as seen in the profound examples of faith and testing throughout Scripture. The serpent's deception in Genesis 3:4-5 sowed seeds of uncertainty in Eve, leading her and Adam to question God's words, thus eroding their confidence in His care and causing them to hide from Him in fear of His response to their disobedience. This stark shift from trust to doubt illustrates the devastating impact of allowing external influences to undermine our assurance in God's promises. Yet, God Himself is not immune to moments of uncertainty regarding His people's loyalty. In Genesis 22:12, after testing Abraham with the command to sacrifice Isaac, God declares, "Now I know that you fear God," indicating that prior to this act of obedience, there was room for doubt about Abraham's commitment under extreme circumstances. This test resolved any questions God may have had, affirming Abraham's steadfast faith and resulting in the confirmation of divine promises and blessings. These accounts remind us that doubt can challenge even the strongest relationships with God, but through testing and obedience, confidence is restored. We are encouraged to boldly seek Him, maintaining faith and assurance in His unwavering faithfulness, so that we do not fall into the fear and separation experienced by Adam and Eve, but rather stand firm as Abraham did, trusting in His divine plan.