Doubt is a normal emotion. Unfortunately, this is, apparently, a negative trait in a Christian.
In Religious communities, it carries negative connotations. It is often synonymous with betrayal or a loss of faith.
We work to dispel skepticism and urge those with doubts to have conviction instead.
To what extent, though, should one always discount their doubts? Can’t we benefit from having our beliefs questioned if we do so in a healthy way?
Instead of avoiding it, embrace it and turn it in your favor. Confess your uncertainty to God and ask for clarity. Doing so will help you mature in the face of doubt.
What Is Doubt?
The term “doubt” is commonly interpreted as “to lack faith” or “to deem unlikely.” According to classical humanism, doubt, though unpleasant, is necessary for existence.
Maybe we don’t think we’re cut out for a marathon. There may be doubts about our parenting abilities. We might not know what lies ahead for our society, careers, or personal lives.
We all deal with nagging self-doubts daily. Occasionally, they could be incapacitating.
Worrying about our bodily safety while traveling through a city may block us from fully appreciating what the neighborhood offers.
René Descartes stated, “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
If we follow his counsel, we ought to challenge his words, which seem conflicting. We won’t blindly follow the teachings of doubters and fake prophets but rather examine the Scriptures for ourselves.
Doubt As Mentioned In The Scriptures
What he desired was for her to have doubts about God’s will.
After she verified that she understood God’s order to include the implications, Satan responded with a rejection, a more emphatic expression of doubt: “You will not surely die.”
Satan’s most effective weapons are fear and skepticism about God’s Scripture and His justice.
Satan’s temptation of Eve in Genesis 3 marks the earliest incident of doubt in the Bible.
God had issued a very specific order concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and He had also made it very explicit what would happen if they disobeyed.
When Satan challenged Eve, “Did God truly state, ‘You shall not partake of any tree in the garden?” Satan immediately cast Eve’s mind into doubt.
The Scriptures make it plain that we are responsible for our doubt, so we can’t place the blame squarely on Satan.
It’s recorded in Luke 1:11–17 that when the emissary of the Lord informed Zechariah he was expecting a boy, he was doubtful. He and his wife had reached the age where they could no longer have offspring, so he was surprised when the angel told him he would remain unable to speak until God’s word was realized.
When Is Doubt Dangerous?
Many folks like Zechariah doubt God’s capacity to surmount natural limitations.
Immoral doubt arises whenever we prioritize human intellect over trust in God. Although our reasoning may seem sound, God has made the knowledge of the earth foolish, and His designs, which appear illogical to us, are far more sophisticated than anything we could ever conceive:
“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20)
Having faith means having confidence in God even though we feel like His will contradicts rational thinking or prior experience.
While humanists insist that uncertainty is necessary for living, the Bible portrays it as a bitter enemy. The words of James 1:5-8 instruct us to pray to God for insight with absolute confidence.
To begin with, the purpose of praying to God is invalidated if we don’t believe He can answer our plea. God warns that because of our weakness, He will not grant our requests if we harbor any nagging doubts about them.
How To Deal With Doubt
Many Christians struggle with doubt. Everyone gets it wrong in their beliefs at some point in their lives.
The good news is that if your devotion isn’t flawless, it can mature and become better today than yesterday. Listed below are some guidelines to follow when confronting doubt.
Put Your Doubt Into Prayer
Pray about it; it wouldn’t hurt. Pray for more than your doubts, though. Count your joys and praise God every day. Put the individuals in your life in prayer every day.
Even in the face of overwhelming adversity, you can find the strength to carry on through prayer.
As you pray, ask others to intercede for you in general and for guidance in dealing with your doubts.
Be sincere with God. Don’t be afraid to bring Him your worries and concerns.
When you come to Him with your doubts, He will show you who He is.
Understand Your Doubts
Conquer your doubts by building a solid foundation of confidence.
Numerous Christian scholars, thinkers, and theologians have grappled with every potential philosophical and theological question.
Look into these writers. Put in some serious head time. Get answers to difficult issues. Instead of relying solely on emotion, trust God and what God can do.
Try Doubting Your Doubts
You can choose which of your thoughts to accept as true. Challenge your skepticism and reinvigorate your faith.
“…’ Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24)
The passage above can be used as both a prayer and a declaration. If you feel the need, say it aloud or as quietly as you want and need it.
Allow Yourself To Feel Your Doubts
Work through your emotions, and submit them to the Lord through prayer if trauma has left you questioning the reality of a caring God.
Learn from the experiences of other people of faith who’ve already gone through adversity and discovered their faith renewed.
In the end, it is possible to mend broken hearts. It may be helpful to work with a minister, psychologist, or faith guide over some time to process your doubts.
Feed The Faith, Not The Doubts
When doubts arise, folks mostly quit nourishing their beliefs and keep feeding their doubts.
Faith must always be worked on just as hard as skepticism. That calls for regular attendance at Sunday services (or a return to them) and everyday devotion to one’s religion.
Know That, Unlike Faith, Doubt Is Just A Feeling
You can’t always choose how you’ll feel, but you can choose how you’ll act on those feelings. The only thing you can do about it is focusing on your personal decisions.
It’s important to make the correct decisions even when you’re scared. If you constantly make decisions grounded in faith, your emotions will begin to reflect God’s truth.
As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” We could also argue that our beliefs rather than our emotions guide us.
Don’t let your emotions about your current plight influence your decision, but instead, let the fact of God’s truth guide you.
A person is blessed if they trust in something despite not having seen it. That would be us as Christians. We have decided to have faith.
One day, the Bible states, everyone will be able to see clearly and kneel before God. We have to have faith until that time comes.
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