Dealing with Doubt

Read

Mark 9:24 “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”

Think

If you’ve ever doubted God, you’re not alone. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this really true?” or “What if I’ve just believed what I was taught without questioning it?”—you’re in good company. Real faith doesn’t mean having zero doubts. It means learning how to navigate them.

In Mark 9, a desperate father brings his suffering son to Jesus. He wants healing but is struggling to believe. So, he says the most honest thing a human can say in the presence of God: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Jesus doesn’t scold him. He doesn’t send him away to figure things out. He meets him in the middle of that tension and brings healing.

That moment is a window into how Jesus deals with doubt. He is not threatened by it. He doesn’t shame us for it. He moves toward us with compassion and truth.

Cliffe Knechtle shared something powerful this past Sunday. Even after years of public debate and ministry, he still faces seasons of questioning. Instead of hiding from those moments, he presses in. He reads. He prays. He thinks deeply. And every time, he finds that the foundation of Christianity is not a blind leap but a reasonable trust.

That distinction matters. Faith is not about ignoring facts. It’s not wishful thinking or a positive attitude. Faith is trusting in the character and promises of God, even when we don’t have every piece of the puzzle. The Christian faith is not afraid of your questions. In fact, Scripture is full of them.

Thomas doubted the resurrection until he saw the wounds. Jesus didn’t rebuke him. He invited him closer. John the Baptist, who had baptized Jesus, later asked, “Are you the one, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus responded with evidence and assurance. These weren’t spiritual lightweights. They were sincere seekers, and Jesus honored their honesty.

There’s a danger in pretending we never struggle. It creates a brittle faith. One small shake, and everything crumbles. But when we bring our doubts to God, we find that he is not fragile. He is faithful.

Francis Collins, a world-renowned scientist, didn’t come to Christ through emotional appeal. He came through intellectual exploration. He saw order and beauty in creation. He watched dying patients cling to Christ with peace and hope. He read the Gospel of John and encountered truth that pierced through skepticism. Doubt didn’t drive him away from God. It led him closer.

The same can be true for you. Doubt is not a disqualifier. It’s an invitation to go deeper. It’s a sign that you are thinking, questioning, and reaching for something real.

So where are you doubting right now? God’s love? His goodness? His Word? His presence in suffering? Whatever it is, bring it into the light. Say it out loud. Write it down. Pray it honestly. Then open your heart to what God might want to show you in the middle of it.

Faith doesn’t mean the absence of struggle. It means choosing to trust anyway. It means showing up with your questions and still saying, “Jesus, I want to believe. Help me where I can’t.” That is the kind of faith Jesus always responds to.

Apply

Think back to a recent moment when doubt crept in. Maybe it was during a crisis, a prayer that felt unanswered, or a quiet sense of uncertainty. Instead of brushing it aside, take time today to talk to God about it honestly. Then tell one trusted person who follows Jesus. Invite them to walk with you, not to fix you, but to help carry it.

You don’t need to solve the doubt today. You just need to stop hiding it.

Pray

Jesus, you never pushed away the doubters. You welcomed them, listened to them, and helped them see clearly. Help me bring my questions to you instead of burying them. Remind me that faith is not about having all the answers; it is about trusting the one who does. Strengthen what is weak in me. Steady what feels unsure. Walk with me in my doubt and lead me toward deeper faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.