I brought some students from our school to the Contend Conference this past Saturday. It was a one day event for high school students, where they could learn about apologetics and the tough questions of the faith. I learned a lot!
I also got to lead a breakout session on doubt. Here is an outline of my notes. Maybe it could encourage someone as they wrestle with doubts about their faith:
Why this topic?
I used to think that doubt was wrong, or that if I doubted, I was letting God down and something was wrong with my faith. In fact, I remember saying for many years that I had a ‘simple faith’. I kind of took pride in the fact that I simply trusted God and took him at His word. Hard questions didn’t seem to bother me and I didn’t really understand when people had doubts or questioned God. Although I’m thankful for that season of simple faith that I had, God knew that my faith needed to be challenged and strengthened. My faith had not been refined, but it was coming.
Going into my 30’s, I began to have doubts and question some things about God. This was a season of life where a lot of transitions were happening in my life, and the Lord knew I needed to grow. The doubts really shook me though, as I had never experienced anything like it. I fully believe that there was some spiritual warfare involved and Satan was trying to bring me down. God met me there though, even in my dark moments and questions. The Holy Spirit gave me the strength and grace to not walk away from God in my doubts, but to press in to Him more.
As I went through this in my own life, I was reminded that people doubted in the Bible, and it could actually be a tool used to strengthen my faith. Doubt was not as abnormal as I had led myself to believe. And people and students all around me were dealing with it too.
I still struggle with doubt from time to time, and probably will until the end because I’m human. Doubt is often a topic that is ignored and not taught, so we want to break that stigma though and look at God’s Word to find hope and courage.
What is doubt? to be uncertain about something…
Let’s be completely honest for a second. Has there been a time where you have read something in your Bible and felt uncertain about it? Maybe it’s not that you are in disbelief, but you just don’t know how to process it or what to think.
Or, maybe you’re going through something really difficult and someone shares Romans 8:28 with you: “God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” And you’re thinking to yourself, “How in the world can this be for my good?”
You read a really tough Old Testament passage, and you begin to question Gods character and goodness. I’m reading through Judges right now, and it’s a tough! Or maybe God doesn’t answer a prayer the way you would like Him to, or you look out at the evil in the world and wonder what God is doing? We all have thoughts like these!
Is doubt sinful?
- Having a moment of doubt in God is not sinful, but praying in doubt is. (Thank God for His grace and forgiveness!)
James 1:5-8— Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
What’s the difference in doubt and unbelief?
- Unbelief is not believing God can do it. Doubt is questioning how or whether God will do it.
*Unbelief Example (Birth announcement of John the Baptist): Luke 1:11-20
*Doubt Example (Birth announcement of Jesus): Luke 1:26-38
Did people doubt in the Bible? YES
- John 20:24-29— Jesus telling Thomas to touch his scars to believe, not unbelief
- Matthew 11:2-3- John the Baptist doubting while in prison
- Luke 24:38-39— After the resurrection, doubting the risen Jesus
- The Psalms, and much more!
When we feel doubt, what should we not do?
- Isolate ourselves and pretend we don’t have doubts.
- Give in to the lies from Satan.
- Take one small step at a time away from God, turning towards deconstruction, which is, picking apart our faith from every angle and turnings towards disbelief. Choose Reconstruction OVER Deconstruction. It’s a hard process but it’s worth it.
When we feel doubt, what should we do?
- Be honest with God.
- (Psalm 13:1-3) How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy dominate me? Consider me and answer, Lord my God.
- (Psalm 13:1-3) How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
- Dig deeper into God and seek Him.
- Ask God to meet us where we are and give us faith and belief.
- “I believe, help my unbelief!” (The Gospels)
- Talk with other trusted Christians about your doubt.
How can God use my doubt for good?
- Break the stigma and encourage others who are struggling with doubt too.
- Go to new walks and levels in your faith, through your wrestling with God & seeking Him.
Matthew Weaver 