If You’ve Ever Doubted God, You’re in Good Company

Does God really exist? 

Do miracles still happen? 

Does God hear my prayers? 

When I was walking through a season of doubt, questions like this flooded my brain.  I didn’t just question God, I questioned myself. I felt embarrassed and ashamed of the feelings I had, and I couldn’t tell many people in my life about it. After all, I was their pastor! I’ve spoken with other Christians who also felt guilty when they doubted God. They wished their faith was stronger and thought perhaps God would have answered their prayers if it was. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t only answer our prayers when our faith is firm. He’s at work even when our faith is flimsy. 

If you’ve walked through a season of doubting God, you’re in good company. One of Jesus’ own disciples is known for his doubt; it’s his claim to fame. Even if you haven’t read much of the Bible, you’ve probably heard of Doubting Thomas. Thomas wasn’t at the empty tomb on that first Easter morning, and he wasn’t there the first time Jesus revealed Himself in His resurrected body to the disciples. So when the other disciples told Thomas that Jesus was alive and present, he doubted their words. Thomas responded, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

Doubts often arise when our expectations aren’t met. According to Thomas’ expectations, the Messiah wasn’t supposed to die. So how could Thomas trust and believe in the midst of disappointment? Here are a few ways Thomas dealt with his doubt that we can learn from today: 

When you don’t know what to think, you can know where to go

Spoiler alert: Thomas encountered Jesus, and doubt didn’t take him out. Why? Because his association brought revelation. He needed to lean into the other disciples and trust what they saw and experienced. When doubt is taking you out, hang out with people of faith. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:12 (NCV), “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.” Paul is sharing a vital secret when it comes to dealing with doubt. He says there will be times when your faith is low, and doubt is knocking at your door. When that happens, lean into the faith of a friend. Let their faith fuel your faith. Let their prayers carry you. Paul also says there will be times when others’ faith will be low, and it will be your faith that carries them. So the next time you feel your faith growing weak, hang out with people whose faith is strong. Let their faith cause you to hold on to God and His promises. 

When I was in my darkest days of doubt, I purposefully surrounded myself with people of faith. My wife, Julie, and I stayed close to my parents and a few trusted friends in the church. The guys in my small group carried me spiritually. When I didn’t want to pray or know what to pray, they prayed. They had faith for me when I didn’t have faith for myself. 

Reach out for Jesus and His Word

Jesus responded to Thomas by saying to him, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27

Sometimes in our doubt we push God away. We get angry with Him and blame Him for something that has happened in our lives. Instead of reaching out for God, we reach out for anything to silence the doubt and numb the pain. Some reach for alcohol, or ice cream, or binge-watch a miniseries on TV to try to fill the spiritual emptiness inside. Some reach out to other doubters to try to justify their doubts, or they reach out to their online communities to vent instead of heal. But Thomas reached out for Jesus. His movement was toward Christ, and the Bible promises that when you move toward God, He moves toward you (James 4:8). 

I remember days when I pushed God away. I was so disappointed that I thought, “Fine, then I’m not going to talk to you anymore.” (As if giving God the silent treatment was going to help me or the situation.) It ended up making me feel more isolated and alone. After several days I turned back to God. And what I love about Jesus is that anytime you reach out for Him, He’s reaching back for you. His arms are wide open. No judgment. No condemnation. No rejection. Jesus didn’t reprimand me for my doubt, and He didn’t reprimand Thomas. He didn’t try to shame him in front of the other disciples. He just told Thomas to reach out and touch Him. 

Turn your doubts into questions and your questions into prayers

It’s okay to have doubts and questions, but where we take our doubts and questions matters. Jesus invited Thomas to reach out and touch His hands and side. This encounter between Thomas and Jesus tells us it’s OK to question God. He can handle it. It’s OK to struggle with spiritual doubt; we all do. In fact, doubt might actually be good for you because it means you are seeking truth. 

A lesson I learned years ago has helped me in my seasons of doubt: 

• Take your doubts and turn them into questions.
• Take your questions and turn them into prayers.
• Take your prayers and let them turn you to God.

If your doubts cause you to seek truth, that journey will always lead you closer to God, because God is truth. God promises in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” That’s an amazing promise I’ve had to hold on to, because what I’ve learned about doubt is sometimes the road you would never choose can build the faith you’ve always wanted.

Want to grow your faith through a season of doubt? Order your copy of Don’t Let Doubt Take You Out.  

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