Dealing With Your 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 your 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 up on me during times of stress, discouragement, or disappointment. Problems and pressures can cause you to question 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 who came to Him to heal his troubled son and Jesus tells the father, “Everything is possible to him who believes.” Look at how 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!’"
Are you dealing with your own doubts? While our bouts with doubt are normal, there are times we need to cast our doubts aside. When confronting Thomas’ doubts after Jesus resurrection from the dead in John 20:27, 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. This is one of the greatest benefits of being a member of a local church. You won’t have to deal with your doubts alone. Other Christ followers have most likely dealt with the same or similar doubts in their lives. We can gain perspective and support from one another. The Bible says that two are better than one. If you are not already connected with a church family I want to encourage you to check out our Membership Class this Sunday at any of our campuses or online. You can register now. The class is immediately following our 11:30am service and the lunch is free for those who attend in person. Students from 5th grade and up are encouraged to attend with their parents. We’ll have a nursery and great programs for younger children as well as lunch provided for them. Don’t deal with your doubts alone. Discover the blessing of connecting with other Christ followers that will enable you to stop doubting and believe!
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.