Doubting God and our faith is not a shameful act. In fact, it can be a positive tool that draws us closer to God. We can use faith, the Word of God, logic and reason to fight our doubts. We also remember that the opposite of faith is not doubt but faithlessness, which is a deliberate decision not to believe in God.
We saw last time how Jesus dealt with the distraught father of a demon-possessed son. The father cried out to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” This is a valuable lesson for us. God is looking for the transparent heart that says, “Help me, Lord, in my deep doubts.” God is so willing to work with us.
Doubt Does Not Disqualify
Who is the best-known doubter in the Scriptures? While we immediately think of doubting Thomas, let’s remember that when the other 10 disciples first saw the resurrected Messiah, they too doubted.
In Luke 24:38, Jesus appears to them and asks, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” The Lord does not rebuke or forsake them, but instead stays with them, challenging their faith by showing that He was not merely a shadow of the dead. He shows them His hands and feet, inviting them to handle or touch Him. If that were not enough, He asks for something to eat. Jesus then takes the broiled fish and the honeycomb they give Him and eats, choosing to dispel their doubts.
Let’s fast forward about 40 days, and these same disciples meet Jesus on the mountain before His ascension. Matthew 28:17 reads, “When they saw Him, they worshipped Him but some doubted.” Yet it is right here, among the doubters, that Jesus gave the Great Commission. Each one was appointed to go, despite some doubting. Jesus will work with imperfect and hesitant followers, even when faith wavers. Doubt does not disqualify us. But we need to be careful because doubt lessens our potential for blessings and a fruitful ministry. So we don’t just sit in doubt … we deal with it.
The Most Famous Doubter
Now we turn to Thomas. Thomas had not been with the disciples when Jesus had previously shown Himself to them, and he did not believe their testimony concerning Jesus’ resurrection. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25). Eight days later, Jesus reappears to the disciples, and this time, Thomas is present.
What was Jesus’ response to Thomas’ statement of doubt? Again, Jesus did not forsake or cast out Thomas from the circle, but came to challenge him with the very demand he had earlier made. Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28).
Thomas not only confirmed his faith in the resurrection of Jesus but also addressed Him as “My Lord and my God.” No other disciple combined these two powerful words (Kurios and Theos) to describe the Messiah’s deity. So here is a man we might easily have condemned for doubting. But look at what was given to Thomas to say… and 1 Corinthians 12:3 reminds us that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. That’s a good lesson for us. Though we were so quick to condemn this man, it teaches us that when someone is in a season of doubt and difficulty, instead of judging, we need to support them, let the Holy Spirit convict them, and pray for great things to come through them.
Stay Close to Believers, Especially When in Doubt
One last thing about Thomas. Although he doubted, he stayed with the disciples as he tried to figure things out. He did not leave them. If we are experiencing doubt, don’t go back to the world to work things out. Speak to others about their faith. Stay close to your community of believers, even if you don’t feel it. Pray with believers and be encouraged by their faith… iron sharpens iron.
Another Example: Asaph
We also remember Asaph’s struggle with doubt in Psalm 73. He was a worship leader and wrote 12 psalms. He watched the rich and the evil prosper while the righteous suffered and could not understand why God allowed this. Asaph was being brutally honest before God, questioning his faith and asking why the righteous suffer. We see from verse 1 that Asaph is a firm believer, but now he wavers and doubts God’s ways.
He Drew Closer to God
How did he handle his doubt? In the same way, we need to handle our doubts. Asaph returned to the sanctuary to seek answers. He drew closer to God, not farther away. He says, “But it is good for me to draw near to God.” (73:28). He then saw the eternal picture of where he would be and where the unrighteous will be. He understood, as we all need to, that some of these conflicts will be resolved only on the other side of heaven.
Be Careful How You Spread Your Doubts
And we have another valuable lesson from Asaph in his moment of doubt. We read this in verse 15, “If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.” What does that mean? Asaph was cautious in how he expressed his doubt. He did not want to cause others to fall. He approached God maturely, mindful not to influence or sway others to follow him. Jesus warns his disciples in Luke 17:2 about how horrible it would be for the person who causes someone else to lose their faith. It would be best for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.
Have you noticed men and women who have left the faith and how they pompously affirm their new agnostic or atheist position, spreading it all over social media?
Lesson? Go to God first and assess why you might be sharing your doubts with others; is it to seek help or to bring someone down with you? So we see how Jesus addresses our doubt. He shows His scarred hands and invites us back, even when we come before Him in fear, confusion, and uncertainty. What we learn from Scripture is that God does not hide our weaknesses. Even doubt is canonized rather than silenced.
God meets our doubts with His revelation and reassurance, not with rejection (Luke 24:45). After all, Yeshua opened their minds to revelation even after all those doubts! It reminds us of when Jacob wrestled with the Angel. And in the case of doubt, that too requires the same intimate engagement with the Lord.
Next time: How to Deal with Our Doubts