Do the struggles and doubts in my life mean I don’t have faith?

Genesis 15:8Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”

Matthew 11:2-3John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

2 Peter 1:4-5Because of his [God’s] glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge.

Many people in the Bible whom we consider to be “pillars of faith” had moments of doubt. Doubts are valuable when they bring us closer to God. The key is to never give up on our faith and to always ask if, over time, our lives have been moving closer to or further away from God. During times of doubt, we should look for answers to our questions, investing the effort and discipline to allow our faith to grow.