Dealing With Doubts

“No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, ‘Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!’”
Mark 9:24 (MSG) 

“Is it okay to have doubts about my faith?” This is a common question asked by many honest Christ followers.  Maybe you’re struggling with your own doubts as you read this.

I hope it’s okay to have doubts about faith because I have had my own bouts with doubt.  Doubts tend to creep in for me during times of stress, discouragement, or disappointment.  Problems and pressures can cause you to reevaluate your faith.  In fact, I’ve discovered that’s when my faith matters the most.  God grows my faith through the trials I face.  I love the story when Jesus encounters a man with a troubled son and tells the father, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23, NIV). I love the way The Message paraphrases the father’s response to Jesus.  It’s so honest, and it’s how I sometimes feel when I pray.  It says in Mark 9:24, “No sooner were the words out of His (Jesus’) mouth than the father cried, ‘Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!’“  

While our bouts with doubt are normal, there are times we need to cast our doubts aside.  When confronting Thomas after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead in John 20:27 (NIV), Jesus said, “… Stop doubting and believe.” 

In other words, you may have seasons of doubt, but they don’t have to be permanent.  God has given us the witness of His Word and His promises, the witness of His Spirit, and the fellowship of His Church to resolve many common doubts and build confident faith.  As your relationship grows stronger, your doubts will become less because you will experience God’s love and care. 

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit https://kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.