What should we do with our doubts?
God does not expect us to stop thinking or questioning after we step into a relationship with him. In fact, Scripture speaks often about our minds and thoughts. We are to love God with all our “mind” (Mark 12:30), to change the way we think (Romans 12:2), to focus on “the things of heaven” (Colossians 3:2), “to destroy false arguments” (2 Corinthians 10:4), and to “think clearly” (1 Peter 1:13). But no matter what crosses our minds, we can always bring it to God so he can help us figure it out.
Matthew 28:16-20Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
In one of his last interactions with the disciples, Jesus commissioned them to spread his message, the gospel, throughout the world. Matthew reports that “they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!” Obviously, doubting is natural, even during worship and even for those most committed to Jesus. How we deal with doubt is most important. Some people wallow in doubt and become skeptical of everything; others become discouraged or depressed; some turn from the faith entirely. These doubting disciples of Jesus, however, became courageous proclaimers of God’s Good News and helped to change the world.
John 20:24-29One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
The disciple most known for doubting is Thomas. We know he was someone who was not afraid to speak his mind, to ask the tough questions (see John 14:5). Because Thomas had not yet seen Jesus after the resurrection, he found great difficulty believing the story to be true. Note that Thomas honestly expressed his feelings of doubt to the others. Then, when confronted with the facts, Thomas affirmed and proclaimed his faith in Jesus. Like doubting Thomas, we should use our doubt to motivate us to look for answers.
Mark 9:23-24“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
God wants us to be open and honest with him. This loving father wanted Jesus to heal his son. He asked for help and honestly admitted his faith-struggle. When we struggle to believe and even harbor doubts, we should express those feelings to God, asking him to overcome our unbelief.
