2 Ways to Banish Spiritual Doubt

Ch 6 in Listening for Guidance: A Little Known but Life-Changing Spiritual Practice

The second the light changed, I charged ahead across the final intersection before the interstate. It was a rush hour morning on Banksville Road in Pittsburgh PA. Seeing nothing between me and the on-ramp, I quickly pushed my old 1968 Skylark up to highway speed.

I focused on the road directly in front, dodging potholes as I went. It was only when I finally looked up that I saw the backed-up traffic, not far ahead. I slammed on the brakes of the rear-wheel drive Skylark. It immediately began to fishtail wildly.

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We’ll come back to what happened next in a few minutes. And, we’ll come back to what this story has to do with Listening for Guidance. But first, I’d like to take another look at the question of what to do if you don’t hear anything when you first try the practice.

Hearing Was Never a Problem for Me

As I mentioned in the last post, I only recently figured out how to answer this question. Because, for me, hearing the inner voice was never a struggle.

When I first tried Listening for Guidance, I sat down, pen in hand, and the words came into my head. I wrote them down, as fast as my hand could write. It was like taking dictation. 

A lot of it is too personal to share, but here’s how it ended:

…Be not afraid to do my will at all times. I am with you always. You fear too much to move out. I say again I will be with you, be not afraid. 

In all you do, I will be there, even in your job, in your work, at home, wherever, I am always there, and the tokens of my affection will be there for you to see in all you do. 

Remember that I love you as a daughter, as my child. Love me also as I have loved you. Be not afraid to love with all your heart. Amen.

It was a beautiful, encouraging message. I wanted more. So I kept going, kept listening and writing. And now, decades later, I’m still writing and God is still answering.

The Importance of Banishing Your Spiritual Doubts

In the last chapter, I talked about how easy it was for me to hear the voice. How I seem to have a gift for getting to theta waves at will. But there was something else I had going for me:

I sat and listened without ever doubting that I would hear God’s voice within me.

That’s the second secret to being successful at Listening for Guidance. To begin receiving guidance requires banishing all doubt. You must believe that you have the ability to hear something.

In the Christian tradition, this is confirmed in a sacred text that is familiar to many believers.

Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. [God] is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So [God] will give you wisdom.

But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt [God]. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind.

People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord. –James 1:5-8 (ERV)

This just makes sense. How can you expect to hear something if you don’t believe that you can hear it?

First, Try This Approach to Removing Doubt

So how do you banish your spiritual doubts?

One way is to read the stories of others who have used the practice, such as most of the authors I’ve mentioned in previous posts. And, well, check out my own memoir, to be serialized starting in July 2024.

You don’t even necessarily have to read about others who have engaged in Listening for Guidance. You could read any stories about the experiences of others who have a strong spiritual faith in some Higher Power or in their own Inner Wisdom.

Hearing those stories will help to build your trust and remove doubt. (If you think about it, this part is baked into all 12-Step programs. A key part of the program is meeting together and listening to one another’s stories.)

As it happens, I grew up in a church where it was normal to tell stories of God’s hand in our lives. It was normal to have spiritual experiences and then to share them within the group. We had weekly Prayer and Testimony services specifically designed for sharing. 

So I didn’t need to go looking for stories. I had grown up with them. 

But if you didn’t grow up with those stories, you’re in luck. There are plenty of published stories out there for you to find, whether Christian or otherwise. For example, check out anything in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

What Happened on Banksville Road

And then there’s another way to banish your spiritual doubt: you can look for your own stories.

So back to that incident on Banksville Road. I was in my early 20s at the time, a good fifteen years before I learned about Listening for Guidance.

After slamming on the brakes and fishtailing, that old Skylark swerved from the right lane, across the left lane, and onto the berm. I hit nothing. Nothing hit me. The worst thing that happened was a hub cap flew off. I easily found it in the upward-sloping bank, trapped by the tall grass. I didn’t even get my dress shoes dirty.

My response? I immediately thanked God for bringing me through the experience unharmed. I thanked God for dispensing grace despite my poor driving habits. And, in my mind, God had earned yet another checkmark in the trustworthy column.

Let me just say, that wasn’t the only time God saved me from myself. I can recite plenty of examples of times God has had my back.

So before I ever tried to hear God’s voice, my belief, my trust, my faith were already rock solid.

Perhaps you would interpret my stories as illustrating the work of some other Higher Power, or a benevolent Universe. Maybe you think it’s all in my imagination. Doesn’t matter. Whatever you call it/Them, whatever other words you use, I know I have the strong faith that’s required to hear the inner voice.

Does Your Spiritual Doubt Need Some Work?

If you’re where I was, if your spiritual faith is already solid, what are you waiting for? Get out your pen and get started. (Again, maybe try the Morning Pages.)

If not, if you have doubts about the whole process, here’s something else to try: 

Spend a little time reflecting on what you could potentially, someday, maybe, see as evidence of God/Higher Power working in your life. What unusual, unexpected, potentially miraculous positive things have happened to you? 

Or, if you prefer, think of it as ways karma has helped you out. Or ways the Universe has had your back. Or ways you have been able to manifest good things in your life. Just find a way to trust in the inherent goodness of life.

I don’t expect you to come to instant faith through this life review. But once you’ve beefed up your trust on the spiritual side of things, give listening a try. And hang on for the awesome sauce.

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If you aren’t sure what sort of questions to start with, you’re in luck. Coming next is a review of the many purposes for which writers have sought guidance.

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