The Quiet Struggle That Many Believers Don’t Discuss
Many Christians experience doubts, but few actually talk about them or even have conversations about them. Christianity, when viewed from the outside, gives off an impression of total confidence and certainty when it comes to faith.
When Christians start to have questions or doubts, they usually feel as if they have done something wrong. This happens even though they still love God, pray, and go to church.
Christians who face life’s challenges feel isolated. They struggle to share their inner turmoil with others. This can lead them to feel completely alone in their struggle against doubt. Over time, they become overwhelmed by it.
Having doubt does not mean that a Christian has lost their faith. For most Christians, doubt is actually a test of faith, just like life often tests one’s ability to believe. Life creates difficult questions for believers. This is especially true when it seems as though God has not answered their prayers. It can also feel like they are going through an unfair time in their life. They feel that God is ignoring the believer.
All of these circumstances can cause the believer to start to lose their confidence in God’s presence. This is not because the believer does not trust God. The believer is trying to understand their relationship with God. This happens amid their current life struggles.
Doubt and faith can live together in a person’s heart according to the bible. A man approached Jesus asking,
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24 KJV).
This man revealed through his honest statement that God does not cast anyone away for admitting their struggles with doubt. God accepts those who openly admit their doubts.
Instead, he showed great faith by bringing his doubts directly to Jesus and facing them head-on. By understanding why Christians struggle with doubt, we can take the shame out of the conversation.
When believers understand that doubt is not the opposite of faith, they realize doubt is part of their faith journey. Doubt is often an integral part. Believers no longer feel they need to hide their doubts. Instead, they can start searching for the truth. If dealt with honestly according to the scriptures, doubt does not damage a believer’s faith. Rather, it will help produce an even greater and stronger dependence and trust in God.
Doubt A Common Experience Among Believers
Contrary to common beliefs, the Bible reveals that many strong believers had doubts at some point.
The Bible reveals that even those who had the strongest faith faced doubts, fear, and confusion. They were not cast away because of their doubts. God accepted them.
Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, is known as the disciple who doubted the resurrection of Jesus.
After hearing that Jesus had risen, Thomas struggled with his disbelief without seeing any physical evidence. Jesus did not scold Thomas for doubting but met him on his level. Jesus said,
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 (John 20:27, KJV).
This illustrates that Jesus understands how weak we are. He responds to our weaknesses with patience rather than anger or frustration.
King David was another person who openly admitted to being confused and doubtful in the Psalms.
In his time of suffering, King David questioned God about His whereabouts. He asked why God had not acted when David needed help. David also wrote,
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1, KJV).
David’s honesty in expressing doubt and confusion brought him closer to God and reaffirmed David’s trust in God.
Doubt is something that even the strongest of prophets have dealt with. Elijah was frightened, discouraged, and doubting his purpose after experiencing powerful victory (1 Kings 19:4).
He asked God to take his life because he felt He had done nothing right. God did not scold him. Instead, He cared for him by giving him rest, food, and reassurance.
Believers today can use this example to understand that doubt can be experienced when someone is physically and emotionally drained.
From these stories, it is clear that doubt does not show a lack of faith. It is an expected human reaction to stress, fear, and uncertainty.
God has always accepted sincere and honest inquiries from His creation. He welcomes these questions. He continues to be faithful and supports His people through times of confusion. He provides guidance during misunderstanding.
Questions Concerning Delayed Responses to Prayers and Expectation
Unanswered prayer is one of the major sources of doubt for many Christians. Christians will often approach God with sincere faith, believing that He will intervene, heal, supply for, or change the situation.
Yet, if prayers seem to go unanswered, confusion is a common reaction. It is also common for discouragement to occur if it takes longer than expected to get a response.
Over time, as prayer continues without an answer, more and more painful questions arise. These questions concern God’s love and presence.
Many times, the delay in receiving answers to prayer contradicts what a person would expect. Many Christians believe that strong faith leads to answers being received quickly. As a result of this belief, prolonged waiting may lead to doubt about God’s love. It can also cause doubt about His presence in ones live.
God’s timing is noted several times throughout the Bible. The book of Isaiah stated,
For my thoughts are not thy thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD (Isaiah 55:8, KJV).
This verse reminds believers that what seems like a delayed answer actually is part of God’s larger plan. It also be a purpose that the believer can’t yet see.
Life’s Harsh Realities, Pain and Suffering
Many times when we go through pain and suffering our doubt is at its highest point. When all is well, it is much easier to place your faith in God.
Once you experience the loss of a loved one, many Christian Followers start to have internal struggles. The illness of a loved one can also lead to these struggles.
Disappointment or injustice can also lead to believers questioning their trust in God. Although the average Christian understands God is good, the feelings during times of suffering can be confusing.
These feelings are typically anything but good. Because of this intense conflict, many Christians start to ask the “hard” questions. These are questions they never thought they would ask God.
One of the biggest struggles of a Christian is to understand how a loving God can allow suffering. When you pray for a person to be healed, and God does not respond, doubts can build up. They quietly grow in your heart. It is also challenging when an innocent person suffers greatly. The Bible speaks to this reality. The man named Job is known to be an example of a righteous man. He experienced great loss and suffering. Even in pain, Job searched for answers. He questioned who God is. Even during these times, Job continued to seek after God (Job 30:20).
Jesus Christ experienced immense pain while He was on the cross:
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matt. 27:46 KJV)
This is an example of how painful and confusing situations can be expressed without sinning. This is an example of God’s intimate understanding of our pain.
Many believers are tested most during suffering. Many believers experience doubt because they struggle with their pain. They are trying to rationalize it, not because they no longer love God. The Bible tells us that in times when we are suffering, God is near us.
The Lord is near to those who are brokenhearted (Ps. 34:18 KJV).
At times of suffering, someone can have doubts. This does not mean that God is not here. It simply means that they are struggling with their pain.
Poor Biblical Foundation and Spiritual Immaturity
A Weak Scriptural Base is the reason many Christians Struggle with Doubts. When Faith is based on only one’s Emotions, experiences, and Opinions from others, Faith becomes Unstable, when difficulties arise. Emotions change, Circumstances Change, and Opinions vary. Without a strong Knowledge of the Scriptures, Christians can lose sight of what they really Believe in times of Doubt.
In the Bible, the Lord uses this analogy to compare a Christian with Weakness in their Faith. The Christian is like a plant that has only a shallow root system. In the parable of the sower, Jesus says,
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:21, NKJV).
When Christians face difficulties with their faith, their faith will not survive if it is shallow rooted. This happens because it was never firmly established in the truth of the Scriptures.
Increased spiritual immaturity affects the intensity of one’s doubts. A new or emerging Christian find themselves unprepared when new challenges arise. They expected their faith to take away all of their challenges.
Growing in faith requires ongoing regular reading of God’s Word. It also requires prayer and teaching. This practice allows for discernment between hearing God’s voice and being led by fear, doubt, or false teachings.
The Scriptures instruct Christians to move past the level of spiritual infancy.
Ephesians 4:14 (KJV) says,
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
By building strong foundational knowledge based on Scripture, Christians will build a solid base. This will help them when their faith is challenged by doubt. As a Christian develops greater knowledge of God’s Word, their doubt will decrease. Their faith will grow stronger, deeper, and more resilient.
Cultural Influence, Media, and Conflicting Voices
Culture, Media, and Various Other Voices
Many voices challenge the Christian faith today. Some voices doubt or even ridicule it. All these voices are here in our culture today. They manifest through entertainment, social media, Internet debates, and other forms of popular culture.
Some voices are promoting messages that conflict with Christian beliefs. Yet, what is presented in these venues has defined much of our culture and beliefs today. Believers’ beliefs can become distorted or misaligned with Scripture through repetition and exposure to these voices.
This happens if they are not firmly embedded in Scripture and solid in their faith.
A significant number of these voices gives a negative connotation to doubt and faith, displaying them as opposite qualities.
When people of faith continually hear messages suggesting that belief in God is outdated, they feel uncertain.
They also hear that belief is irrational. Sometimes this uncertainty arises without the person realizing it.
God will transform our thoughts through the renewing of our minds. We are to not conform to the world (Romans 12:2 KJV). We need to renew our minds by reading and meditating on the Word of God. If not, we slowly lose our faith in God. The worldly philosophies that surround us today can influence us negatively.
Some teachings are in opposition to one another, and the overwhelming number of opinions add to the confusion. One of the reasons for this is that not every teaching that is called “Christian” is founded on the Bible. Half-truths, false teachings, and misinterpretations cause confusion and doubt for many people about their faith.
The Bible warns us of what to expect when it says,
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (2 Timothy 4:3, KJV).
If you do not use discernment when ingesting what you are taught, your faith will be shaky.
A great number of different opinions can confuse. Rather than build your faith, too many voices can drown out the truth from God.
Christians should listen to what they are told. They need to check it against the Scriptures. This ensures they are staying grounded in the Word of God.
We let the Truth of God be the filter for what we hear. In doing so, the outside voices will lose their influence. We will manage to keep our faith secure even when we hear many different things around us.
Christians are Afraid to Ask Difficult Questions About Faith in Church
Many Christians struggle with doubt and feel unsafe discussing it in their church. In some churches, faith is seen as something that is certain from the beginning and doesn’t need questioning. People feel that admitting that they have doubts shows that they have failed in their faith journey.
They are afraid of being judged. They worry about being corrected too harshly. They fear being viewed as spiritually weak if they admitted that they had doubts about their faith. As the result, they keep all their questions to themselves and continue to wrestle with their doubts by themselves.
Ignoring or silencing doubt does not cause it to go away; in fact, it only causes it to increase. Instead of getting answers to their questions, those who doubt often search for answers in places that are unreliable.
The Bible advises believers to engage in open dialogue about their faith. It encourages them to grow in their faith through honest discussion.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV).
God does not need believers to hide behind silence when they are trying to decide if their faith is real. He wants believers to test their faith. They should grow stronger through that testing and examining.
Learning and active learning were central to the early church’s value system. The Bereans’ example shows their dedication to listening intently and investigating the Scriptures. What they heard taught (Acts 17:11) demonstrates that there is nothing wrong with questioning. If you act from your heart, you start a deeper understanding. This leads to a greater comprehension of the teachings and ways of Christ.
A church should run as an environment in which all members can grow together. To do this, members must feel safe to ask difficult questions.
When this is happening, Christianity can become a much deeper, stronger, and more personal experience. Honest sharing of feelings will give the opportunity for healing, clarity and growth in spiritual maturity.
Community-based doubt has the potential to lead to discovering “The Truth”, while fear-based doubt will cause isolation.
Spiritual Warfare And Inner Conflict
Much doubt we face in life comes from outside influences. It also stems from our inability to understand God’s purpose for our lives.
But there is another, more sinister source of doubt within us. Spiritual warfare, or an inner struggle with God’s will and purpose, is very real to a person of faith.
The Bible makes us to understand that as Christians, we should expect spiritual confrontation.
This confrontation attempts to make us doubt ourselves, God’s intent, His Word, and our place as believers in Christ. The use of doubt as a tool of destruction has existed since man was first created.
In the Garden of Eden, the enemy asked Adam and Eve,
Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1 KJV)
By using that little question, the enemy instilled doubt into the hearts of Adam and Eve. Believers today experience similar thoughts in their minds that plant doubt about God’s faithfulness, create anxiety, and make us vulnerable.
Doubt is often a spiritual assault on a believer that deteriorates their faith and trust in God. Scripture teaches us that there are “principalities” and “powers” (Ephesians 6:12). They create doubt in an individual through emotional and mental means. God equips the believer to combat this type of temptation and mental/soul attachment with spiritual armor.
Our Christian faith provides spiritual armor (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) so that we can effectively fight against “fiery darts” from the “wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).
Our faith is our shield. We build our faith by using Scripture. We pray and stand firm in God’s truth. As a result, the negative impact from doubt will lessen. We will develop confidence in our faith in God once again.
How Christians Can Approach Doubt in a Healthy Manner
Doubt does not need to drive Christians away from God. It can be the impetus that brings them closer to God. This is true if they deal with it in an honest way.
The first step towards responding healthily to doubt is bringing our doubts to God, rather than hiding them from Him. Scripture encourages us to be open about our doubts with God. It says,
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee (Psalm 55:22, KJV)
A second important aspect of responding healthily to doubt is anchoring one’s faith in written Scripture. This should be done rather than relying on one’s emotional state. Our emotions can change from day to day, yet the written Word of God is the same every day.
When we experience doubt, it is crucial to return to the word of God. This helps stabilize our hearts and minds.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17, KJV)
A consistent time spent reading the Bible is essential. It builds up our faith. It also provides clarity in areas where we have confusion.
Seeking the counsel of wise individuals who follow God is important. Faith is not meant to be an isolated journey of an individual. By speaking with mature followers of Christ, one can get encouragement.
This includes pastors, church members, or good Christian friends. They offer a fresh perspective.
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14, KJV).
Being part of a community provides support and also helps to guard against doubt growing to discouragement.
Besides seeking wise counseling, Christians should choose to persist. They need to persevere instead of pulling back. Doubt often makes Christians want to withdraw from prayer, church, and fellowship. These are the very things that will help their faith grow. When believers seek God persistently, they build trust in God. This occurs even without clarity or clear answers. This trust will withstand life’s trials. When Christians face doubt honestly, they make progress. Each fight against doubt helps them build a stronger level of faith.
Conclusion – Doubt Can Become a Means to Deeper Faith
in fact, many Christians experience doubt as a way of stretching their faith. Many believers in the past and current have had doubts and have struggled with questions, pain, and uncertainty. The important aspect is not if a believer experiences doubt. Instead, it’s about how they react to their doubt.
When a Christian acknowledges their doubt and does not hide it from God, that gives God an opportunity to work. Through doubt, Christians can study God’s Word more closely. They can pray more earnestly. They also have the potential to trust in God more completely.
The Bible encourages believers to seek God in times of uncertainty. It states,
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13, KJV).
A Christian’s search for God in times of uncertainty ultimately strengthens and establishes a Christian’s faith.
An individual’s faith does not truly develop until tested by doubt. Nevertheless, an individual’s faith can become strengthened through doubt when he/she continues to trust in God.
Even though, an individual’s relationship with God is often built on new levels of understanding of God’s unqualified grace. It also relies on patience and loyalty, emerging from their own experiences with doubt and uncertainty.
In this way, doubt is a roadblock to the Christian journey. Yet, it becomes a catalyst for greater and firmer growth in faith. Intimate growth occurs through a biblical based, trusting relationship with God. This happens when approached humbly.
