Is it okay to have doubts sometimes?
Yes. Doubt is not the same as unbelief: unbelief is a settled refusal of Christ, while doubt is a question that still wants Him. Scripture shows believers struggling, asking, even demanding answers, and Jesus met them with gentleness, not distance. Bring your doubts to Him, and hold the promise while the feelings waver.
This question arose from studying What is faith, exactly? and Can I lose my salvation?.
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What the Scripture says
Doubt is not the same as unbelief
Unbelief is a settled decision that Christ is not worth trusting; doubt is an open question that is still reaching for Him. The father in Mark 9 brought both at once: 'I believe. Help my unbelief!' and Jesus did not scold him for the honesty; He healed his son. A struggling faith is still faith, so long as it is still looking to Christ.
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Honest doubt brought to Jesus is welcomed
Thomas demanded to see the nail marks, yet he stayed with the disciples, and Jesus came to him and offered exactly what he asked for. Even John the Baptist, from a prison cell, asked through his disciples, 'Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?' Jesus answered by pointing to His works, and blessed the one who finds no occasion for stumbling in Him. Doubt is safe in His hands.
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?”And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
God is not threatened by our questions
Asaph ended envious and confused about why the wicked prosper, and he said plainly that his feet had almost slipped. Yet he brought it into the sanctuary, into the presence of God, and there his understanding cleared. James tells the one who lacks wisdom to ask God, who gives generously without reproach. Bring the hard questions to Him rather than burying them or letting them drive you away.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me; Until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Faith finally rests on a Person, not on answers
Paul's confidence was not that he had resolved every question but that he knew the One he had trusted: 'I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him.' Faith is assurance of things hoped for: it holds to Christ when the answers are slow. And nothing, Paul insists, can separate us from His love.
For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
The danger is a doubt that refuses Christ, not one that seeks Him
The warning in Scripture is not against asking questions; it is against a double-mindedness that will not commit, a faith tossed like a wave. Doubt that drives you back to Christ is an invitation; doubt that keeps you away from Him is a danger to resist. Keep returning to the Word, to the Body of Christ, and to His table, and bring the wavering heart to the One who strengthens the weak, holding the faith that, though tested by fire, is more precious than gold.
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
On some have compassion, making a distinction,And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
As you read, you may wonder…
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Why does God seem silent when I pray?→Prayer trail“Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”What do I do when I feel far from God?→Prayer trail“How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
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