Handling Doubt: What to Do When You Question Your Faith
"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24 NKJV
A young woman sat in the quiet of her room, Bible open but heart restless. She had prayed for answers, but the silence pressed down like a weight. Her questions tumbled over one another: Does God really hear me? What if my faith isn't strong enough? In that moment, she feared she was drifting away from God. What she could not yet see was that doubt wasn't pulling her further from Him—it was actually inviting her closer.
Many of us imagine doubt as the enemy of faith, something that proves our belief is weak. But Scripture shows us a different picture. Abraham wondered how God could give him descendants when he had no children. Thomas struggled to believe until he touched the risen Christ. The disciples feared for their lives, even with Jesus beside them in the boat. Their questions didn't end their faith journeys—they deepened them. In the same way, our doubts can become turning points, where trust grows stronger and more personal.
The Invitation Within Doubt
Doubt is not the absence of faith—it is often the soil where faith takes root. When questions arise, we are not running away from God but seeking Him more honestly. That kind of seeking can transform us.
In Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV), God told His people in exile, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." They felt forgotten, abandoned in Babylon. Yet God's promise was simple: those who seek Him sincerely will find Him. Our doubts carry that same invitation—to bring our whole heart, questions and all, into His presence.
Have you noticed how honest prayers feel the most alive? God is not offended when we say, "Lord, I don't understand" or "Help my unbelief." He meets us there, shaping our uncertainty into trust.
Anchoring Faith in God's Word
When doubt unsettles us, Scripture steadies us. Instead of letting questions echo in silence, we can answer them with God's voice.
The psalmist in Psalm 42:11 (ESV) cries, "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." Here, faith and doubt meet in the same breath. The psalmist admits his despair but refuses to stop there. He speaks truth to his heart, reminding himself that hope remains. This honesty teaches us that it's not unfaithful to question; it's faithful to bring our questions back to God.
Trusting Together, Not Alone
Doubt can feel isolating, but God designed faith to be lived in community. When Thomas doubted the resurrection, Jesus met him—not with condemnation, but compassion (John 20:27). That moment happened among the disciples, reminding us that community is where questions find answers and fears find peace.
Sometimes what we need most is not instant clarity but the steady presence of others who believe with us when our own faith feels fragile. Sharing doubts in a trusted community opens the door for encouragement, prayer, and reassurance.
Choosing Trust in the Unknown
Not every question will be resolved quickly. Some doubts linger, yet faith calls us to trust even when we do not understand.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB) reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." These words were written as wisdom for everyday life, teaching us that faith rests not on answers but on God's unchanging character. When we choose to trust in uncertainty, we discover His peace is greater than our need for explanation.
A Step Forward
Doubt does not mean you are far from God. Often, it means you are closer than you realize—because you care enough to ask. Instead of fearing your questions, let them guide you into deeper seeking. Journal your doubts, pray through them, and open Scripture to see how God speaks into your struggles. Call a friend who will listen and remind you of God's promises. These small steps can turn a season of doubt into a season of stronger faith.
Let us pray:
"Lord, thank You for meeting us in our questions. Transform our doubt into trust and teach us to see Your presence even when answers are slow to come. Strengthen our faith in You, today and always. Amen."
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Quick Interactive Exercise: “Fill in the Faith”
Below are portions of Bible verses used in this article. Can you complete the missing words from memory? (Answers at the bottom.)
“You will seek me and ______ me when you seek me with all your ______.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)
“Why are you cast ______, O my soul, and why are you in ______ within me? Hope in God; for I shall again ______ him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:11, ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your ______ and do not lean on your own ______. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your ______ straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NASB)
Answer Key:
1. find / heart 2. down / turmoil / praise 3. heart / understanding / paths
The Benefit of Doubt: How Confronting Your Deepest Questions Can Lead to a Richer Faith
Craig Groeschel’s The Benefit of Doubt is a beautifully honest and compassionate guide for anyone wrestling with faith’s more challenging questions. With his trademark warmth and vulnerability, Groeschel invites readers to see doubt not as a stumbling block but as a bridge to a deeper, more authentic relationship with God.
This book resonates powerfully with the themes of Handling Doubt: What to Do When You Question Your Faith, especially in reminding us that our questions don’t disqualify us; they can strengthen our faith when brought honestly before God. Groeschel tackles real concerns like feeling distant from God, unanswered prayers, and doubts about the Bible with practical wisdom and biblical reflections, making it a companion for anyone journeying through uncertainty.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your faith can survive or even thrive in the face of doubt, this book will encourage and equip you to lean into God rather than away.
Call to Action:
Ready to dive deeper into faith that endures? Grab your copy of The Benefit of Doubt today, and be sure to subscribe to the EXCEL2FAITH Newsletter for more uplifting insights and tools to strengthen your walk with God.
Heavenly Father, when doubts rise in our hearts, draw us closer to You and remind us that even our questions can lead us into deeper trust. Teach us to seek You with honesty and hope, knowing that Your Word is steady when our faith feels fragile. Surround us with Your peace when answers seem far away, and strengthen us through community and prayer. May our struggles with doubt become the very soil where unshakable faith and a deeper relationship with You grow.