While the fear in doubt tempts us to hide from the possibility that God is not the truth, God Himself is eager to answer our questions and lay our doubts to rest. The skepticism we face can be re-evaluated to be not a weapon for our destruction but nourishment to our faith and knowledge of the Bible. Therefore, we must process the question and ask God for the answer, honestly coming to him with authentic open-heartedness, with no expectation or premonition of the answer. Hard-heartedness only works to strengthen the doubt, not strengthen the faith. Even stubborn faith can become detrimental if not founded on a genuine connection. God does not call us to follow anyone blindly, so He provides the evidence and strength we need to base our faith on the proverbial “rock” of truth.

It is tempting to simply search the internet for the answers to questions only God can answer. I often search for another opinion on a Biblical subject, but there is something to be said for a pure lesson from God without outside influence.

The greatest classroom

Humankind is not suited to answer all the questions we may ask. So, don’t be surprised if Google doesn’t satisfy your most profound doubts. But one source never ceases to teach me. God’s word is sharp enough to pierce through even the most stubborn doubts, cutting away the lies and half-truths and revealing the proverbial meat, ministering to the heart. We are equipped with not only the most fantastic textbook but also the most excellent teacher, who, in His perfect time, will reveal the secrets our hearts long to understand.

Doubt in God is not the enemy

Ellen G. White spoke on doubt in her book, Steps to Christ:

“Many, especially those who are young in the Christian life, are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism. There are in the Bible many things which they cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these to shake their faith in the Scriptures as a revelation from God.”

We naturally try to silence our doubts because we see them as a sign of unfaithfulness to God. But like I mentioned previously, our loyalty is not dependent on how perfectly we trust God and how few questions we have. Trust in God is not from a lack of deep questions, but an open-hearted search for God.

The Bible is complex and filled with truths that require faith to believe. Science and history and religion, and other external factors support the truth, but everything from the account of Creation to the resurrection requires a leap of faith. We can see and prove that human discovery can only get us so far, as Christianity is a religion of faith. So doubt is a natural reaction, but Satan will try everything to keep your mind on all the seemingly missing puzzle pieces, nurturing the doubt.

Ignoring doubt is the stepping stone to disbelief

Chapter 12 continues, “God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to your reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.”

You can read more here.

God is our teacher; He provides the answers to our questions, also giving evidence to strengthen your faith. But the evidence isn’t always found in scientific fact, but often through the testimonies of others. When I feel estranged from God, I usually watch a testimony video on YouTube. I find that it strengthens my faith and reminds me of the greatness and character of the God I serve and trust. It also makes me feel closer to Him and overjoyed at His love and dedication for His people.

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

Psalm 119:111 ESV

We have a choice

God is a God of choice. He created humanity with the ability to reason and make choices carefully. God will never force an option on us. He will never completely remove doubt, as it reminds us that we have a choice in what we think and who we believe. It allows us to evaluate why we believe.

Finally, I included a few verses on faith.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10:17 NKJV

Another way doubt rears its ugly head is through doubting your own mind. Click here to read more.

Click here to read part one of my study on doubt!

Until next time,

-Alycia Dantier