When Doubt Knocks
The wife’s day had been a blur of tasks—taking care of the kids, tidying up the house, and making sure her husband was looked after. By the time evening rolled around, she was worn out, longing for just a small break from her busy routine.
Finally, with a moment to herself, she glanced out the window and noticed the salesman. His shiny shoes and crisp suit caught her attention immediately — a stark contrast to the clutter and chaos of her day. His warm smile felt like a welcome change, something different from the endless chores she had been tackling.
As she watched him, the salesman adjusted his tie and then firmly but gently knocked on her traditional wooden front door. The sound echoed through the quiet house, cutting through the stillness of the evening. Yet, something stirred in her—an unexpected flicker of curiosity. Maybe this was the break she needed—a pleasant conversation, something new, a little relief from the monotony of the day.
She headed to the door, eager to see what he had to offer. His polished appearance and pleasant demeanor seemed like just the thing to lift her spirits. She didn’t think twice as she opened the door, unaware that the salesman’s visit might hold more than just a simple offer behind that charming exterior.
If you missed the first mini-chapter, When Doubt Approaches, you can read it here!
Some days, from the time you get up to when you go to bed, it feels like you’ve been running nonstop—taking care of the kids, keeping the house in order, and tending to your husband's needs. Add a business, career, and church ministry. Whew! What a life, huh?
It can feel like there’s not enough time in one day. And by the time you get a few minutes to yourself, you’re absolutely spent. You barely have time to catch your breath, and maybe you’re longing for just a moment to yourself — a small break from the daily grind.
I get it. But that’s a chance Satan is willing to tempt us in. He wants to see us break. He wants to see our marriages divided. He wants our homes destroyed.
But he’s not going to ride into your driveway on a motorcycle and announce his plans. He’s been doing this deception thing for a while. He’s smarter than that. And he has a remarkable amount of experience studying how people respond to temptation.
Remember, he accused Job of only fearing the Lord because God blessed him and preserved his possessions, family, and health.
Aren’t these our priorities as well? What if Satan also accuses us before the Lord that we only fear God and worship Him because our marriages and homes are blessed? Because our husbands serve the Lord. Because the Lord has preserved our marriage from infidelity. Because we have a good income and our bills are paid.
🤔 Let’s really think about this, sis. 🤔
He comes dressed up in charm, disguised as something harmless, even comforting. Just like he did in the Garden of Eden, he’ll approach you in your most vulnerable moments, whispering thoughts that sound like reasonable questions. Remember when he said to Eve, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). That’s how it starts.
The salesman in this story represents Satan himself, and the briefcase he’s holding? A bundle of doubt, ready to be unpacked and used as weapon for mass destruction in your heart and home.
At first glance, it looks like he’s offering something helpful, a thought that can provide clarity — maybe even peace of mind. But once you give into it, it doesn’t stay small.
And it’s so easy to fall into this trap, especially when you’re tired and stretched thin. You’ve been working so hard to keep everything together, and you might not even realize when doubt starts knocking at your heart. It can come in subtle ways, like:
“Maybe my husband doesn’t really appreciate everything I do.”
“I’m not sure I’m cut out for this. Is God really with me?”
“Is my marriage supposed to be this hard? Maybe I’m missing something.”
“Does my husband even love me?”
These aren’t loud accusations—they’re quiet, almost reasonable questions. After all, that’s how he asked Eve. And that’s also how he presented his accusation about Job to the Lord.
It’s just Satan’s MO. He appears as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). He’s not trying to scare us off; he’s trying to tempt us with doubt so we can make the choice.
And he’s hoping that we choose our own plan instead of God’s perfect plan.
✨ But sis, I come bearing good news! ✨
We don’t have to let doubt in. That’s right!
When Satan knocks on our door, we don’t have to answer because God has given us everything we need to stand firm against him.
First, things first. We must know God’s Word. When Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus didn’t entertain the lies. He responded with Scripture every single time (Matthew 4:1-11).
As wives, we have to do the same. God’s Word is our weapon against doubt. It reminds us of His promises, His goodness, and His faithfulness.
Second? We must speak God’s Word. Think about Philippians 4:8, where we’re encouraged to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, and lovely. When doubt starts creeping in, we need to redirect our thoughts to what we know to be true:
God is for our marriage because he joined us together with our husbands!
God is for our marriage because he created marriage.
God is for our marriage because it represents the love Jesus has for us!
So, He hasn’t left us to figure it all out on our own. 🙌
Third, we have to stay prayerful. In those moments when doubt feels overwhelming, we can go straight to the Father and ask for help. He’ll give us mercy and grace in the time of our need (Heb. 4:16) as we seek Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and strength to resist the enemy.
And don’t forget the power of community. You’re not alone in this. Surround yourself with godly women who can encourage you, pray with you, and remind you of God’s truth.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us that two are better than one because they can help each other up. When doubt starts knocking, your sisters in Christ can help you stand strong.
A good friend of mine asked me a hard question one time. I still ask myself the same question when the enemy attacks me with doubt:
Am I going to let doubt in? Am I going to choose lies over the truth?
Sis, I want to encourage you today. If the enemy is knocking on your door with doubt, you have the power, through Christ, to resist him and close that door.
Satan’s goal is to create division—between you and your husband, and more importantly, between you and God.
Lean into the truth of God’s Word. Surround yourself with prayer. Stay connected to your sisters in Christ. And remember, God sees you. He knows the weight of your responsibilities, and He’s with you every step of the way. Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
When doubt knocks, you can stand firm. Not by your own strength, but by the strength of the One who has already overcome the enemy — Jesus.
So, what happens when the wife opens the door to the salesman? Come back next week to find out!
The way I enjoy reading your work. I just know it's going to come in handy when I finally wed and have kids. Thank you for writing this!
😮💨 thank you!