A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless (Tim Keller, The Reason for God xvii).

I have struggled with much of my own doubt. Doubt is painful. It blinds your eyes to Christ, and it robs you of your joy. It causes you to question God. It makes the small joys sin offers seem great (Genesis 3:1-6). However, as painful as it has been, and as much as I have stumbled in the midst of doubt, I am glad for much of it. When Jesus predicted Peter’s faithlessness, he commanded him, “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). I have learned invaluable lessons through some of my hardest nights. To doubters, from a doubter, here are some of the things I have learned.

Do not be afraid of doubt.

One reason many people ignore their doubts is because they are afraid. It may sound scary even to admit you have doubts long enough to look at them. Yes, there is a high price to pay for rejecting Jesus. But, if you do not examine your doubt, you will have a hard time following Christ to the extent that he calls. And anyone who says, “I follow him,” but is not willing to put a cross on his own back, is not following him where he went: to be crucified.

If you have doubts, don’t be afraid to examine them. Repent insofar as you find sin in your doubt, and beg God to help you with them. Seek help from wise Christian friends and leaders. But don’t fear your lack of understanding. Take it to the cross. Jesus died for doubt, too, and he demonstrated great forgiveness for those with doubt during his ministry.

When Thomas doubted, Jesus was not harsh toward him. Nor did Jesus appoint a new apostle to take his place. Jesus came to him and showed him his wounds (John 20:24-29). When a father came to Jesus with his mute son, Jesus told him he could heal him if he only believed. In despair, the father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”  And what did Jesus do?  He healed his son. Not because he had perfect faith, but because Jesus had mercy on him (Mark 9:20-27). If God command us to “Have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 22), how much more mercy will he have on those who doubt and come to him for help?

God is not impressed by the strength of your belief. What delights God is a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). So go to him with your doubt. Be broken before him, and plead for his help.

Do not focus on your doubt.

Dealing with your doubt is one thing, but do not let your doubt become your focus. The focal point of Christianity is the person of Jesus. Look to him!  In his autobiography, Charles Spurgeon described his conversion this way,

Like as when the brazen serpent was lifted up, the people only looked and were healed, so it was with me. I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard that word, “Look!” What a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could have almost looked my eyes away (CH Spurgeon Autobiography, Volume 1 88).

It is those who look to Christ who are healed, and none others (John 3:14-15).

Where to go from here

Trace your doubts back to their roots. Try to identify where they come from. Are your doubts objective (you don’t believe Jesus) or subjective (you wonder if you are a genuine Christian)?  If you can get a handle on the nature of your doubt, you will be better able to seek help.

I have listed some things below you can do to deal with your doubt and provided some information on where to go from here:

• Read your bible, and spend time evaluating the person of Jesus. The crowds Jesus spoke to were astonished by his teaching (Mark 1:22). They said, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46). So go to him. See if you find the Jesus in the gospels to be a trustworthy person who speaks with authority.
• Also evaluate the character of Jesus’ followers. Similarly, Jesus’ followers gave up everything they had to follow him. Paul was a respected Pharisee before he converted to Christianity and suffered tremendously for Christ’s sake (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Why was Paul willing to suffer so much for Christ?  Spend time reading the words Jesus’ disciples (Paul, Peter, John, etc.) wrote and see if you find them to be credible witnesses.
• Wrestle with huge theological problems. When you have a theological difficulty (for instance, the problem of evil), work on it; try to find explanations for the paradoxes you come across. Don’t feel you have to solve it soon; rather resolve to wrestle with it for months or years if that is what it takes, and find good, trustworthy theologians who can help you through your questions. John Piper and Tim Keller are two of the ones who have been most helpful to me.
• Spend time with Christians. Find some trustworthy Christians who are trying to follow Jesus with all their hearts and get to know them. They will make a lot of mistakes, but if they truly love Jesus, you’ll be able to see something different in them (1 John 2:15).
• Reflect on the witness God has given in creation. Romans 1:19-20 says God has made himself plain to the world through creation. I know it may not always seem that way because sinful people try to suppress this knowledge (Romans 1:18), but it is everywhere. You just have to humble yourself and open your eyes. Be amazed at the world God has created!  And ponder things like the moral law, which God has given us to bear witness to himself.
• Read helpful books. Tim Keller’s The Reason for God is a good place to start. And this may sound strange, but I can’t recommend Charles Spurgeon’s All of Grace enough. Though it simply repeats the claims of Christianity over and over (rather than offering evidence and argumentation), it helped me out immensely during some great doubt in my life. There is truth to the fact that the Holy Spirit works through the proclamation of the gospel to create believing hearts. Immerse yourself in the gospel more than anything else. Facts won’t make you a lover of God, but the gospel will. Biographies of radical lovers of God are helpful as well.
• Get away from distractions. Our entertainment-saturated culture isn’t helpful for pointing us toward God. Develop better ways to use your time that point you to God. Spend time outside in his creation. Spend time in your room, alone in prayer. Many times it’s good just to be quiet and ponder things that you wouldn’t have time to ponder if you sat in front of the TV all day.
• Preach the gospel to yourself every day. The primary problem in your doubt is likely not an intellectual issue but a moral issue. No matter how hard you try to believe, you won’t unless God works in your heart. You can work yourself up into a sweat trying to believe, but it won’t get you anywhere unless the Holy Spirit brings you faith. Get on your face before God and beg him to send you his Spirit. Do not just do it once. Do it a thousand times. It may take years of doubt before you begin to feel confidence in your faith again. Resolve not to give up, but to endure through your doubt. Put the gospel in a sentence you can take with you to recite to yourself. “God justifies the ungodly” is as helpful as anything I’ve ever come across.

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