Hope for the Doubting Christian

There are many times in life when we feel the tension between what we believe to be true and what we experience in life. As Christians who are to be rooted and directed by

trust in God, doubt can be a very painful and disturbing reality to face. If faith is confidently clinging to God’s word and promises, then doubt is questioning if God is worthy of our trust.

Our doubts can be packaged in many different forms and levels of severity. They may

be emotional doubts that question if God is really good. Or perhaps questions pertaining to whether or not you are a genuine believer. Others doubt may be more intellectual, questioning the actual truth claims and events in the Bible.

Times of emotional or intellectual wrestling can be dark and even frightening. The book of James says a doubter is like someone who is tossed to and fro by the waves. But weighty trials can also be an encouragement that we are seeking to know God and

have a desire to be firm in our faith. Maybe your circumstances or experiences don’t

seem to line up with what you would expect from God. However, even in these times,

God is faithful and often uses these doubts to ultimately grow and mature our faith as

we choose to believe him.

Throughout the Old Testament examples of doubt abound. Abraham and Sarah

doubted whether God was going to fulfill his promise of a child. In the Psalms we read

and feel the heart of David as he question’s God’s ways and wrestles with the very

character of God. But God faithfully renews his hope and trust repeatedly. In the New

Testament, John the Baptist, who Jesus said was more righteous than any other man,

doubted. While in prison, John asks some of Jesus’ disciples to go to Jesus and say,

‘Can you verify for me that Jesus really is the Messiah, or should I be looking for

someone else?’ So if you find yourself doubting, don’t despair. Even the saints of

Scripture wrestled with doubt.

As Christians, God has given us all the resources we need to overcome our doubts. We

can find hope and encouragement in his promises. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks

wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be

given him.” The Psalms speak often of God’s guidance. Psalms 73:23, “Nevertheless, I

am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”

In our clinging for confidence in the midst of doubt, we may struggle to find firm footing. Clear direction or knowledge seems to elude us. It is here that we the person of Jesus offers immense hope. The clearest picture of God is made manifest in human flesh. His character, his teaching, his miracles, his love, his death and resurrection. These things are reasonable. But more than that, they call deep to the heart. They are the antitode to doubt. They give both the mind and heart something to cling to, a rock and firm foundation. The person of Jesus is an anchor in the storm when the waves threaten to drown us. May we look to Jesus in the midst of our doubts and say with Spurgeon, “I kiss the waves that crash me against the Rock of Ages.”