Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about doubt? Even if you have been born again for many years, you still may regularly struggle with doubt. It is important to note that doubt can be good or bad. Doubt can be a good and valuable element in a truthful, scientific, and rational inquiry. It prevents us from coming up with erroneous conclusions and helps us avoid untrustworthy sources. However, if doubt is directed towards God himself and His power, then it becomes a sin. As Christians, we need to learn how to tackle our doubts, especially if our faith is involved.
Spiritual maturity means believing in Christ with all your heart, mind, and soul. We need to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18), but doubt can sometimes impede this growth. There are times when we may even doubt our own salvation. During trials and tribulations, we may begin to doubt God’s love. In fact, there are times when we will doubt the reliability and infallibility of the Bible. We sometimes even feel uncertain about the existence, identity, and works of Christ. The truth is, even John the Baptist expressed doubt about the identity of Jesus (Matthew 11:2-3), so you’re not alone!
Stop Doubting and Believe
Doubt can be burdensome for us Christians. Jesus has called us to have perseverance as we run the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1), but doubt is a weight that we simply can’t keep running with. It slows us down and affects our endurance. Doubt is a sin that easily trips us up. Bear in mind that doubt towards God is synonymous with unbelief, even though it is not complete unbelief. If you are struggling with doubt today, cry out to the Lord, just as the man cried out to Jesus in Mark 9:24, “I believe; help my unbelief”. Although the man was not a full unbeliever, he is considered a doubter.
Another example of doubt in the Bible is when Peter walks on the water with Jesus, but begins to sink. The Lord said to him, “You have so little faith, why did you doubt me?” (Matthew 14:31). By studying this passage, we see that doubt is not the complete absence of faith, but the weight of doubt can clearly sink us to the bottom of the ocean. Jesus Christ doesn’t want us to doubt Him. He responded to His doubters, such as the man in Mark 9, Peter while walking in the water, and Thomas after the resurrection (John 20:27), with a firm but gentle rebuke. Jesus called them to cease their doubt or disbelief. If you notice, the followers of Christ receive firm yet gentle rebukes, but the Jewish leaders received sharp and blistering rebukes from the Lord.
What to Do with Doubt?
The first thing you need to do when you feel like you’re doubting God is to repent. Repenting simply means changing your mind and turning in a new direction, according to God’s word. We must repent and start believing the gospel or the good news that He has brought to us (Mark 1:15). Don’t just express to Jesus that you are struggling with doubt; you also have to repent. Repentance is powerful enough to break down your doubt. After repenting, the next thing you need to do is believe. Yes, believe in Jesus Christ. Remember what Jesus said to Thomas the doubter, “Do not disbelieve, but believe,” (John 20:27). Believing Jesus simply means aligning your mind with His Word.
It is time for you to lay aside the weight of doubt and start believing in the power and majesty of God. Doubt should not impede you from running the race that was set before you. Always remember that we have a Savior who died to free us from sin, including the sin of doubt. Trust in the Lord and He will surely help you. Even when in doubt, keep running the race with your eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
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