Growing Through Doubt

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
John 20:26–28

Times of doubting become schoolrooms of learning, those places where a new kind of faith is forged. It will come slowly, and that’s healthy. It’s being shaped on the anvil of God’s mysterious plan, some of which you will not be able to explain. And that’s okay.

Now the real question is how. How do we grow this new kind of faith in the tough stuff of doubt?

First, by risking and failing, not always playing it safe. You can’t afford to live a life of fear. You must not always play life safe. Winning over doubts means beginning to live by faith and not by sight. Walking this new journey has its risks. You cannot see around every bend or anticipate every danger. You will sometimes fail, but that isn’t fatal! That’s how we grow, by trusting God through the risks we take and the failures we endure. Step out. Refuse to play it safe.

Second, we keep growing by releasing and losing things valuable, not finding security in the temporal. At the heart of this technique is the principle of holding all things loosely.

Third, we continue to grow by questioning and probing the uncertain, not mindlessly embracing the orthodox. Read that once again, aloud. We don’t just blindly swallow someone else’s answers. We keep our minds and our hearts engaged in the pursuit of God’s truth. By searching the Scriptures. By seeking God’s wisdom and understanding. That’s what I mean by questioning and probing.

Fourth, we grow by admitting and struggling with our humanity, not denying our limitations and hiding our fears. And I can assure you that this author for God understands when you find yourself cornered by doubt. I’ve been there more times than you’d ever believe. You are definitely not alone.

Perhaps you have just read for the first time in your life that there is room at the cross for your doubts and your questions. Maybe some well-meaning soul has pushed you into a corner and attempted to make you believe or tried to force you into feeling your questions are an offense to Christ. You need to hear anew the tender words of One who knows your doubts and fears better than you. He says, “Peace be with you. Look at My hands and feet. Look with eyes of faith and believe. You are blessed when you believe in spite of your doubts.”