What are you doubting?

Our trust in a lot of things has gotten shaken over the last year. Misinformation, disinformation, lies and half-truths seem to be the norm anymore. When what we thought was solid belief comes into doubt, it rocks us to the core and we start doubting…everything. This applies to our faith. If I can’t trust what my eyes are seeing and my ears are hearing, how can I trust what I can’t see and hear? Does God really exist? Is His Word really true? Have I believed a lie this whole time?

Sometimes we feel guilty for doubting God. But, doubt is a normal part of life, and if doubt is directed in the right direction, it is a key piece to actually building and growing our faith. Why? Because truth is truth and will never change. Truth is there even if it is temporarily hidden. And if we truly seek for the truth, we will find it.

Look at the struggles the following people in the Bible had:

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest— (Psalm 55:4–6)

… Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said: “May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is born!’ That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it. (Job 3:1–4)

Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. (Psalm 27:9)

These are just a few of the examples of people who struggled with God being there for them. Their circumstances in life began to cause them to doubt God’s goodness and God’s presence in their lives. The next Scripture highlights the disappointment one has when trying to trust God in difficult times and it doesn’t look like God is anywhere to be found.

My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” (Psalm 119:82)

Many people begin to lose faith when what they trusted in fails them. When their perceived expectations don’t come true, they become disillusioned, and this happens with God as well. But God is not offended or afraid of our doubt. In fact, God wants to compassionately help us with our doubt.

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; (Jude 22)

And (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38)

I think the best example is Doubting Thomas. You may know the story. After Jesus rose from the dead and had appeared to the other disciples, Thomas wasn’t present at that first resurrection appearance in the Upper Room. When the other disciples told him Jesus had appeared to them, he didn’t want to get “tricked” twice. I think he was disillusioned about Jesus being the Messiah and not actually “following through” by overthrowing the Romans and setting up the Eternal Kingdom they all thought the Messiah was going to do. You almost get the feeling of him saying, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” Thomas’ response to the excitement of the other disciples was:

“… But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

And what was Jesus’s response?

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Jesus cared about Thomas and made a special appearance just for Thomas. In fact, Jesus provided the exact answer Thomas asked for to prove that He had indeed risen from the dead. We don’t know for sure, but the text doesn’t say that Thomas actually put his fingers in the holes, but just the appearance and offer was enough to make Thomas exclaim:

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:25–28)

Yes, when life shakes us, we have doubts. Yes, when expectations turn up empty, we get discouraged. Yes, we get disappointed and disillusioned, but Jesus is there if we truly ask, and seek. If we are patient and persevere, God will bring us the answers we seek. What doubts and questions are you having? Give them to God and ask Him to help you find the answers. He will.