Dealing with Doubt

Doubt is a part of life. We feel confident, then something happens or doesn't happen, and we waver, we question, we wonder if we had it wrong or if we've been let down or even fooled. It happens in every area of life. We’re doing fine but something happens and then our perspective changes. Plenty of people in the Bible doubted. Moses doubted God’s call, name, plan and power. Abraham doubted God’s promise. Gideon doubted God’s ability to provide. Eve doubted God’s motives. Thomas doubted that Jesus rose from the dead. We all deal with doubts. It even happened to John the Baptist.

In Matt. 11:1-6 our attention is turned from the apostles, who are just beginning their ministry, to John the Baptist, who is coming to the end of his. John the Baptist received the gospel favorably, but due to his being imprisoned and facing discouraging circumstances at that point, he was dealing with some doubts about the nature and identity of Jesus. He needed reassurance. What I hope you grasp is something very comforting: that while the true child of God sometimes doubts, Jesus deals perfectly with us and our doubts.

What is doubt? To doubt is to have misgivings, to question, to not be sure, to be uncertain, to be conflicted in mind. It is wrestling with truth as it intersects with our perspective and present circumstances, as we try to make sense of life as it relates to God’s purposes and what He allows. These verses ought to encourage us to be honest about the doubts we might experience, while taking them to the One who can answer every doubt, the Lord Jesus Christ. God is big enough to handle all your doubts.

By the way, almost all the gospel references to doubt refer to believers not unbelievers. The kind of questioning John the Baptist engaged in can only happen in the life of a believer. See Matt. 14:31, 21:21, 28:17; Luke 24:38; and James 1:5-8.

Doubt is not the absence of faith, but a lack of it. Doubt is not unbelief, it is to partially trust.

Doubt is not rejection or denial of Christ. Doubt is humble; rejection & denial is arrogant. Doubt is not the absence of nor does it cause us to lose salvation. John was not questioning the truthfulness of God's Word, he was just not sure of his understanding of those truths. What we possess, our faith; is strong enough to withstand questioning because of Who possesses us, our Savior.

To doubt is not sin, but to keep doubting can be. Even John the Baptist had doubts. Jesus basically warned him not to let it lead him to stumble, told him to stop doubting. In Rom. 14:23 it says "he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin". Notice, doubting is not sin, the eating is. Allowing the doubt to lead to an action not based on faith. To doubt is not to sin, but it can lead you there. It all depends on what you do with it. John took his doubts to Jesus. So must we. And what caused John's doubts can also be the cause of ours.

The Causes of Doubt
1. Difficulties...John the Baptist was in prison for doing what is right. What are you facing that might put you in a doubting frame of mind?

2. Discouragement...Feeling defeated, deflated, depleted of resources. In 1 Kings 19, after a huge victory over Ahab and the prophets of Baal, Elijah became discouraged and wanted to die. He said he was the only one left who was on God's side. God had to remind him of the truth, that He had 7000 people who had not worshipped false gods. What has you discouraged?

3. Disappointment...disillusionment, things not working out as planned. What happens doesn't fit your expectation. Sometimes our expectations are exceeded, sometimes they are not even met. For John, the kingdom of heaven wasn’t unfolding quite like he thought it would. Jesus let him stay in prison and allowed him to be beheaded. As tough as it was, it was God's plan for John's life. What disappointments are you nursing today?

The Cure for Doubt
In Christ’s response we see the way out of doubt. What you should do if experiencing it or helping someone who is.

1. Reassurance...encouragement that all is going according to God’s plan. 11:4-5 Jesus didn’t condemn him, He comforted him, had mercy on him. Like Jude 1:22 says "have mercy on those who are doubting". We all need reassurance at times, even the strongest and most secure. We need to hear that all is well, God is in control, all is not lost. God's Word leads to assurance. John was wavering, like Peter who walked on the waves with Jesus but saw the danger and sank. Doubt like John had and most believers sometimes struggle with is common. Atheists and skeptics have deep seated doubts that lead them to stumble over Jesus. Believers have doubt, or confusion, which is honest questioning, stemming from a humble heart as opposed to prideful questioning that comes from an arrogant unbelieving heart. Doubt is questioning in the safe context of faith and belief. I understand how doubts develop. You are condemned by man so you doubt if God will forgive you for all you have done. You are lied to so you doubt if Jesus will keep His promises. 1 John 3:18-24 Assurance is knowing for sure, John 17:3. We all need our assurance refreshed at times.

2. Remembrance...remembering what God has done. It is comforting to see Jesus' response to John's doubts. He doesn't blast him, He reassures him. Jesus reminds him of Scripture, of His presence, of the power of God displayed through His life and ministry as foretold in Isaiah 61:1. If you struggle with honest doubts, turn them over to Jesus. Find your comfort and security in Him not in nursing your doubts.

3. Realignment...we need to refocus on truth and get in line with what Jesus is doing. 11:6 Whoever finds no occasion of stumbling in Me. This comforts and corrects John. John was in a fog and needed both. There is need to both comfort and correct those who doubt. Like realigning car wheels, sometimes minor adjustments can make huge differences. Jesus may not do what you think He should be doing, but He is doing exactly what He intends to do for His glory and our good. Things might not work out like you think they will, but God is in control. Allow the Word of God to realign you with Jesus’ program.

If we are honest, we would all admit, that at times, especially when we are feeling defeated and discouraged and depleted of resources, that we have doubts. We believe, but find it tough reconciling present situations with eternal realities. The glorious gospel of the grace of God in Christ cures our doubts, distrust, even suspicion of God. When we question His motives, when we wonder if He really has His glory and our good in mind.

The true child of God sometimes has doubts, and Jesus has a perfect way of dealing with us and our doubts.

Soli Deo Gloria