Full of doubts?

Not too long ago a good man stopped me and asked, “Do you have doubts?” He wanted to know if my Christian life included any uncertainties about what I claim to believe. He’s not the first to ask me that question! He wanted to know if I ever wondered about questions like: Does God care for me? Does He really take note of me? Is He active? Does He answer prayer? These are real questions and more common that we think. Many of us feel anxiety and even guilt about even having these thoughts. We are convinced that if we were a ‘better Christian’ all doubt would disappear and we would live in perpetual assurance. Think again. The deeper a person delves into faith, the more we choose (note that word) to walk in faith, the more we expose ourselves to the possibility of doubt. Why? Because the choice to live by faith leads us from the common, the safe, the tested and out into the realm of the impossible, the impractical, ‘walking in the Spirit.’

Faith needs to grow and gradually replace our doubts. But, doubt is not necessarily a bad thing. It can and should lead us to an examined and tested faith that is able to withstand the stormy times of life that will come to us all. Timothy Keller, author and pastor, says that “a faith without some doubt is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic.” (Reason for God, Riverhead, 2008) I love that analogy to antibodies. We can live without them, but we are much more resistant to sickness because of them. Each time our bodies fight off some virus, we gain strength for the next assault.
Doubts are disturbing! But, they also can help us to clarify our beliefs which, in turn, deepens our ability to trust God. Doubt and faith need not be adversaries. Doubt can lead us to greater faith if we respond to it in ways that recognize our limitations. If we require iron-clad proofs that respond to our demand to see, touch, smell, or hear; then doubt will become destructive. If we are willing to admit that there are many things we simply cannot reduce to the simplicity of our own understanding, then we can come to a place where we are prepared to discard doubt and choose to trust God. I am convinced that we should not force that process to end prematurely, either in ourselves or in others.
In my life, doubt is ultimately defeated by building from the broad issues of faith to the more defined ones. Long ago, I chose to believe in the existence of God. The balance of evidence pointed to a Supreme Being, a Creator. Examination of the evidence and Scripture brought me to the choice to trust that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this world to reveal His grace and Himself to us thus; I am a Christian. Learning of the way of life He taught and seeing how genuine discipleship brought such benefit to this world, I chose to respond to His offer of grace and follow Him as a disciple. Do you see the pattern?
John closes his Gospel, which is a long argument for Christian faith, with a story of doubt overcome. As you read it, take note that Jesus did not condemn the doubter. Instead, he invited him to examine the evidence and make a choice!
"Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:27-31, NIV)

Are you doubting? Keep it honest.
Ask the questions, not as accusations but as real inquiries.
Allow for mystery.
Be a good student of the world, the Scripture, and yourself.
And, listen for the Spirit’s invitation to faith.
"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. …


It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him."
(Hebrews 11:1, 6, The Message)

___________________

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray;
Take all my guilt away.
Oh let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire.
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh may my love to Thee
Pure, warm and changeless be,
A living fire.

While life's dark maze I tread,
And grief around me spreads
Be Thou my Guide.
Bid darkness turn to day;
Wipe sorrow's tears away;
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside!

When ends life's transient dream,
When death's cold sullen stream
Shall o'er me roll,
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove.
Oh bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul.

My Faith Looks Up To Thee
Palmer, Ray / Mason, Lowell

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