The word “doubt” is a five-letter word. Unfortunately, many Christians have turned it into a four-letter word. That is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. Jude says, “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 22). Doubt is a very real part of our life as believers. While life is full of misery and mystery, with God’s help we can face it for what it is.
The Bible gives many examples of believers who doubted. The psalmist David expressed his doubts in no uncertain terms in his painful, poetic expression of Psalm 22. Though he complains about God’s apparent silence, he hasn’t given up. Three times in verses 1 and 2 he cries out, “My God . . . my God . . . my God.” And this is no flippant, irreverent, “Oh, my god!” No, David is clinging to his relationship with God as his last hope. The psalmist doubts, and yet clings to the assurance of his personal relationship with God.
In spite of the fact that John the Baptist had foretold Christ’s coming, baptised him, and then heard the voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” he doubted. From the dark hole of a dungeon, John sends word to Jesus, asking: “Are you really the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” Nevertheless, Jesus does not condemn John for his doubts, but rather commends him for his spiritual stature. Furthermore, Jesus reassures the doubting prophet by describing the messianic signs authenticating his ministry (Matthew 11:4-5, 11). As for the doubting disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus simply responds by giving the scriptural evidence for belief (Luke 24:13-35).
Doubt is not the opposite of faith, nor is it unbelief. It is rather the state of mind that hangs suspended between faith and unbelief. Jesus always distinguished between doubt and unbelief. Thomas came to Jesus, doubting his resurrection. Did Jesus lecture him about the virtues of blind faith and brand him a heretic? No, he respectfully, graciously, and tolerantly gave him the facts. In Mark 9:14-32, Jesus heals a demonized boy whose father says, “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” Since Jesus never responded to outright unbelief, it’s evident that this man’s struggle was one of doubt, not incredulity.
Those who doubt say, “I’m struggling to believe.” Those in unbelief say, “I won’t believe.” Doubters are honest; unbelievers are obstinate. Those in doubt are looking for light; those in unbelief are content with darkness.[i] The seeker of truth need not fear his own questions. After all, Jesus didn’t. He cried out in his own birth language (Aramaic) on the cross, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46). Why did the translators leave the Aramaic expression? Because this was Jesus’ birth language, which carried the greatest intensity of emotion. Furthermore, that desperate cry came from a heart overwhelmed by the evil laid upon him—your sin and mine. While you and I can never suffer as Jesus suffered, we do at times feel forsaken and alone. And at such times, we need to express our truest feelings and honest questions to God.
While doubt is not unbelief, it is a vital part of vibrant faith demonstrating the existence of truth. Augustine once said, “I doubt, therefore truth is.”[ii]. Not everything is true, so not everything should be believed. If there were no absolute truth, then doubt wouldn’t exist or serve a purpose. Our doubts also demonstrate the sincerity of truth. Since not everything is certain, we must strive to be more certain of what is true. Philosopher and author Os Guinness states it well: “Find out how seriously a believer takes his doubts and you have an index of how seriously a believer takes his faith.”[iii] Doubt keeps faith from being complacent. Doubt, if embraced properly, can flower into full-blown faith!
[i] For certain of these thoughts I’m indebted to Henry Drummond’s “Dealing with Doubt” as found in Warren W. Wiersbe, Listening to the Giants (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), 113-119. [ii] Augustine, De Vera Religione cited by Os Guiness, In Two Minds (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1976), 48. [iii] Ibid., 31.
This excerpt is adapted from Life with a Limp: Discovering God's Purpose in our Pain (Vide Press, 2022). Purchase now at the following:
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