Testimony Tuesday: Witnessing Christ’s sufficiency through doubt

By Rachel Schuck

“[Christ’s] grace is sufficient. When I’m weak, he is strong. [Circumstances] might be hard, but if Christ can be magnified, then it’s worth it.”

As a pastor’s daughter, Bethany Scott grew up in a vibrant Christian community. Surrounded by many godly individuals, Scott experienced the faithfulness and hard work of both her parents and church family. From a young age, she was strongly impacted by their love for the Lord.

At six years old, Scott, a senior Communications major at Cedarville, surrendered her life to Christ during her church’s Vacation Bible School. However, while she knew the truth of the gospel, she grappled with the assurance of her salvation. Scott questioned her motive for accepting Christ into her heart. She was burdened by the thought, “What if I didn’t mean it?”

“After I was saved, I really struggled with doubt just because I got saved so young, and I don’t remember a whole lot,” Scott said. “I really doubted if I [got saved] just because I wanted to get that affirmation.”

Throughout her middle school and high school years, Scott continued to second-guess her salvation. While she lived a normal Christian life outwardly, she battled her doubt internally. 

“I was really kind of stagnant where I was just not progressing in the Lord,” Scott said. “I wasn’t pursuing a super Christ-like community. I really felt like I was just existing.”

In 2018, the Lord used a hard circumstance to challenge Scott’s doubt. Two days after Christmas, Scott’s dad suffered sudden heart failure and coded three times before he was stabilized. The family sat by his bedside in the hospital for hours, awaiting the doctor’s diagnosis. Scott was scared to fall asleep, terrified she would wake up without a dad. Her dad sensed her fear.

Scott’s dad said, “Can you promise me to trust God more than you trust yourself?” 

Soon after, Scott’s dad underwent a successful heart transplant and resumed his pastoral ministry. Through her dad’s healing process, Christ revealed his sufficiency and perfect timing to Scott.

“We may not know the future, but [I need to] trust that [God’s] already there and that he already has everything planned out perfectly,” Scott said. “He’s going to guide me there. He supplies for every need.”

In 2021, the Lord used another difficult experience to prick Scott’s heart. During a summer church camp, Scott encountered several heavy issues that she struggled to cope with. While she faced anxiety, depression, and spiritual warfare, Christ showed Scott his goodness.

“The Lord helped use that heaviness that I experienced [at camp] to point me back to him,” Scott said. “It kind of just set me back to ‘Okay, I want to pursue the Lord.’”

After graduating from Sinclair Community College, Scott transferred to Cedarville in the fall of 2024. During her first semester at Cedarville, Scott witnessed the transforming power of the Lord. 

“[Cedarville] has really transformed my faith, and my concept of God has just totally grown,” she said. “God just became much more real to me when I came here.”

Through chapels, daily Bible journaling and quiet time, the Lord pulled Scott closer to himself. When she began her Bible and the Gospel class, he provided victory and assurance over her uncertainty through Greg Gilbert’s book, The Gospel. After reading the book for class, she finally comprehended the source of her salvation.

“My salvation isn’t anything on what I’ve done, but what [God’s] already done,” Scott said. “He’s done it all. All I have to do is accept it and repent.”

As the semester progressed, the Lord showed Scott how to live with purpose for him. Rather than living for herself, she desired to serve other people.

“[Christ] has taught me to be centered and focused on [him] first and then those around me,” Scott said. “My life’s goal is just to be an encouragement to others in Christ.”

Clinging to Ephesians 3:20-21, Scott recognizes that God is gracious in every season. She rests in his abundant care and eternal sufficiency, striving to show his goodness to others.

“[God] knows all things, and he is good,” Scott said. “We’re in a broken, fallen world, but he has a plan to restore us, and I’m just thankful that we can be little bits and pieces of that plan.”

As Scott looks forward to graduation, she reflects on God’s faithfulness through hardship and thanks him for his perfect sufficiency. 

“I have the Lord, and I have eternal life,” said Scott. “What more could I want? I have everything in Christ.”

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Rachel Schuck is a freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student. She loves to play the piano, get coffee with friends and take walks in the sunshine.