Season
Doubt
When faith feels thin and questions get loud.
What this is
Doubt is not the opposite of faith. A desperate father told Jesus he believed and asked for help with his unbelief, and Jesus helped him (Mark 9:24).
Doubts come from hard questions, suffering, hypocrisy in the church, or feeling nothing. Questions need answers, hurts need healing, feelings need patience.
Talk to God about your doubts, and to a mature Christian. Doubts grow in secret and shrink in honest conversation.
Go back to the centre: Jesus and His resurrection. The risen Jesus met doubting Thomas with evidence and kindness (John 20:24-29). Your faith rests on what He did, not on how you feel.
Hold on to this
Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
Read slowly: Thomas meets the risen JesusJohn 20:24-31
24Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” 26Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Where to next
- Write down the doubtPut it in one sentence. Is it a question, a hurt or a feeling?
- Look into it honestlyCheck the questions section, or read a good book on it. Christianity can handle hard questions.Browse the questions
- Tell a mature ChristianTell someone you trust: I'm struggling to believe. Most mature Christians have been there.
- Keep showing upKeep going to church and reading the Bible while you doubt. Faith often grows back through ordinary things.
- Read John 20 slowlyRead the whole chapter. Notice how Jesus treats Thomas.Read John 20
Watch out: Doubting alone
Hidden doubts grow, and pulling away from church makes them louder. Bring them into the light.
Pray
Lord, I want to believe, but right now it's hard. Help my unbelief. Show me Jesus again, answer what I need answered, and hold on to me while I wait.