Doubt, Uncertainty and Unbelief
Doubt, uncertainty and unbelief carry us down a road full of unknown fears. Distrust of God’s love, His character of faithfulness, and the promises found in His Word, can lead us to a state of restlessness, discontentment and hopelessness.
Doubting Thomas
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples, but Thomas, one of the twelve, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But Thomas answered,
“‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, ‘Peace be to you.’”
“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Reach here your finger, and see My hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into My side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.’” ~John 20:25-29 WEB
Mercy for the Doubting
Yet in the midst of our doubt, we are shown mercy.
“And have mercy on some, who are doubting.” ~Jude 22 NASB
If we find ourselves like the desperate father of the boy who had been tormented and assaulted by demons since he was a young child, yet when he sought the disciples for help, they were unable to assist the boy. But when Jesus spoke to the father, He asked if the father believed and trusted Him.
“Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” Mark 9:24 AMP
We can find ourselves desperate for answers, yet unable to find anyone to help us. In the place of desperation, we too can cry out, “I believe and trust You! Help my unbelief!”
God hears our cry and answers. We can leave doubt, uncertainty, and unbelief behind us, taking instead a path of faith, trust, and life in the One Who never leaves or forsakes us.
Faith, Trust and Life
Faith, trust and life carry us down a pathway of hope. Our faith is in the Majestic One. Our trust is in the Faithful One. And our confidence rests on Him, His love, His character, and His Word. His promises are true!
“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC
“Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” ~Hebrews 11:1 AMPC
“And without faith it is impossible to please him. The man who approaches God must have faith in two things, first that God exists and secondly that it is worth a man’s while to try to find God. ~Phillips 11:6
Though doubt, uncertainty and unbelief assail us, we can rebuff the attack by leaning into the Lord in faith, trusting in Him and His faithfulness. We can refuse doubt, choosing instead the pathway of His love, His abounding grace, and His abundant life. In this place of peaceful trust, we find a hope that does not fail because it is founded in His everlasting love and faithfulness.
Recommendations:
3 Steps in How to Wait on the Lord – Strength with Dignity
How to Find God – Strength with Dignity
References:
10 Bible Versus about Faith and Doubt. Published by Jesus Film Project on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2023, from 10 Bible Verses about Faith and Doubt – Jesus Film Project
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. Retrieved from Websters Dictionary 1828 – Online
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is doubt.
12 thoughts on “Doubt, Uncertainty and Unbelief versus Faith, Trust and Life”
God’s wisdom’s always shouted,
everything He does is neat-o,
but I wonder if He’s doubted
the anopheles mosquito?
Now, in this place we mostly lack
’em, and I do not want to scare ya,
but they always could come back,
and then, hello malaria!
Right now I’m in a bad relapse,
they’ll go on long as I’m living,
so you could call this thing, perhaps,
the kind of gift that keeps on giving.
Lord, I won’t complain too much,
but stick to butterflies and such!
Our confidence rests on Him – how very true, and how exciting!
Just stopped by from FMF #17
Andrew is such an encouragement to us all, Heather!
May the Lord give you and Barb grace as you walk this cancer journey, Andrew. It is a rough road to travel! My Dad was a two-time cancer survivor, but my Mom died of cancer seven-weeks after her original diagnosis, so one never knows what the pathway will be like.
Amen!
I’m glad you found this encouraging, Sandra!
Thank you, Lisa. I love that Thomas’ honest expression of doubt is included for our benefit and he himself was rewarded with the deep and personal revelation of “My Lord and my God”. WOW.
Good insight, Dawn! Including Thomas’s doubt gives room for humanity to act human; yet gives room for God to be God.
Lisa, I am so very grateful for the mercy the Lord extends when we doubt. “Yet in the midst of our doubt, we are shown mercy.” Amen! He draws closer to us, for His Presence is able to dispel the doubts.
So true, Joanne! He is so merciful, and His Presence dispels the doubts in our heart and mind.
I’m so grateful for God’s mercy upon us. Lisa, this is such an encouraging article that I’m pausing to reflect on your words here.
Thank you for sharing this with me @ Sweet Tea & Friends this month.
He carries us, Paula!