Doubt: the growing edge of faith

All people of faith are familiar with doubt. Yet we may well feel some sense of shame or guilt for doubting, as if we should not. The very existence of doubts seems to indicate a feeble faith rather than a clear conviction.

I see it differently.

Doubt is not the same as unbelief; it is a time of being unsure whether we believe or not; it is a potential turning point. Although doubt is not a sin, it is important to pay it careful attention, because there can be consequences for all eternity.

Look back at the things you now believe. Wasn’t there a time, maybe long ago, that you doubted them? Praise the Lord that he has brought you through those doubts to greater faith. Every advance in our faith was preceded by doubt, out of which grew conviction. Through doubt, in time, comes greater faith - doubt is the growing edge of faith.

But of course doubt can also be the turning point at which we lose our faith - hence its seriousness and potentially eternal consequences. So what makes the difference? When does doubt turn to faith, and when to unbelief?

I think it depends on what do you do when you doubt.

Do you dwell on your doubts and try to rationally work them out by yourself, probably getting stuck in the process? Do you pretend to have faith, but inwardly harbour doubt? Do you turn away from God, doubting that he will help? Do you stop going to church because you are not sure what you believe? If so, that way lies disbelief, discontent, disillusionment, and ultimately death.

Or do you take your doubts to Jesus?

There are many famous doubters in the Bible. Here are a few:

• Abram, who doubted God would give him the promised land, in Genesis 15v8
• Gideon, who doubted whether he was hearing from God, in Judges 6v17
• John the Baptist, who doubted whether Jesus was the Messiah, in Matthew 11v2
• Peter, who doubted he could walk on water when Jesus told him to, in Matthew 14v29
• and Thomas, who doubted whether Jesus had risen from the dead, in John 20v25.

Each was honest with God, taking their doubt to Him. And God didn't strike them down for doubting, but in each case responded carefully and gently to their doubts in a way that caused their doubt to turn to faith!

Why do I still doubt? Because my faith is still growing; because He still has more to do in me!

And if you are really struggling with doubt and wonder whether you can carry on as a Christian, do not suppose that you will resolve your doubts by giving up your faith. Do you really think that non-Christians and atheists don’t have doubts: What if there is a God? Perhaps Christians are right? What am I here for? Surely there is more to life than this?

So the answer to doubt is not atheism, but honestly taking your doubts to God. God can use doubt to grow our faith!

There is nothing that God wants better than to increase your faith, so that you know Him better and to make you more useful to Him. In every case I quoted – Abram, Gideon, John the Baptist, Peter, Thomas – it was through their doubt that God brought about greater faith! If we take our doubts to Him, He can use them to grow our faith.

Doubt is the growing edge of faith - when we take it to Jesus!