Let’s be honest, doubt isn’t a foreign concept to any of us. Whether you’ve been following Jesus for decades or a brand new on this walk, there’s a good chance you’ve wrestled with questions that seem to shake the very foundation of what you believe. And it’s okay. Doubt isn’t the enemy of faith, it can be a doorway to a deeper trust in God.
We can overcome doubt by walking through some biblical principles the address a few of the most common struggles that we all face.
- Am I really saved?
- The nagging fear that maybe God isn’t as present or involved in your life as you’d hoped
These are some doubts. I still have from time to time. How about you?
There is some practical ism to tackle these doubts head on and discover how God uses them to strengthen our faith. Maybe doubting isn’t something to be feared, but an opportunity for God to meet us in a deeper way.
It’s easy to assume that doubt makes us a bad follower, but nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the greatest heroes of faith in scripture wrestled with doubt, and God didn’t abandon them -He met them in their questions.
Take Thomas a disciple of Jesus for example. After the resurrection, he famously refused to believe that Jesus who rose from the grave until he could see and touch Jesus‘s wounds for himself (John 20:24-29). And what was Jesus‘s response? Did He rebuke Thomas for his doubt? No. He met him where he was, offering His hands and side as proof. Jesus didn’t dismiss us. He gave him what he needed to believe.
King David, a man after God‘s own heart, also wrestled with doubt. In Psalm 13:1-2, he cried out,
“How long Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
David votes didn’t make him any less faithful, they revealed his deep dependence on God.
And who can’t forget about the father in Mark 9:24 who cried out,
“I believe, help my unbelief.”
This one line perfectly captures the tension we all feel, belief and doubt can coexist.
Doubt , brought to God, and actually deep in our relationship with Him. It forces us to lean into His word and promises, seeking answers in His truth rather than our own emotions. Instead of seeing doubt as a sign of failure, we need to view it as an invitation to grow in our faith.
2. Trust God’s Word, Not Your Feelings
One of the hardest doubts as a follower of Jesus is wondering, “Am I really saved?” is the kind of question that can keep us up at night, replaying our mistakes and wondering if we’ve truly done enough or bleed enough to secure a place in heaven. But there is good news, our salvation doesn’t depend on our feelings. It depends on God’s promises, and His promises never fail.
The Bible is crystal clear. If we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior and believe in His resurrection, we are saved (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus Himself promises us,
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand” -John 10:28.
Notice how these assurances don’t hand on how we feel on any given day. They rest entirely on the finished work of Jesus.
Feelings are important, and can be incredibly reliable. But they fluctuate with circumstances, stress, and even what we ate for lunch. God‘s word on the other hand, is a solid foundation. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is,
“The same yesterday and today and forever.”
Our salvation is as secure as His character.
When we struggle without about our salvation, we can make it a habit to memorize and meditate on scripture that affirm God‘s promises. Scripture like Ephesians 2:8-9,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.”
Beyond our salvation, learning to trust God’s Word over our feelings applies to every area of life. When whispers to us, “God isn’t listening,” or He doesn’t care about you,” remind yourself of the truth in 1 Peter 5:7,
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Trusting God’s Word over our feeling isn’t always easy, but it’s the key to overcoming doubt and standing firm in our faith.
3. Reflect On God’s Faithfulness
One of the best ways to combat doubt is to reflect on God’s faithfulness both in scripture and our own lives. The Bible is full of reminders of God’s constant presence and provision.
If we look at Exodus 14:21-22 of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, God didn’t just make a way for them; He literally split the sea to lead them to safety. During their time in the wilderness, He provided manna, quail, and water, meeting their every need.
God’s faithfulness isn’t just an ancient story, it is alive and active today. I can think back to moments in my own life where God has stepped in and gotten me out of a few situations that I could not have gotten myself out of. I’m sure you can think of a few situations was well. These moments prove that He is with you. It’s because of the Lord’s great love for us that we are not consumed. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
4. Fight The Lies of the Enemy
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Doubt often comes straight from the pit of hell. Jesus called satan the “father of lies” in John 8:44, and one of his favorite tactics is planting seeds of doubt in our minds. Whether it’s whispering that God doesn’t love us, that He’s abandoned us, or that we’ve gone too far for God to give us grace, Satan knows how to twist the truth. That’s why it’s important to learn how to overcome doubt when we begin to follow Jesus and replace those lies with the truth of God’s Word.
When we recognize the lies satan tells us and replace them with God’s truth, doubt loses its grip. Satan tries to undermine our faith, but God who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
5. Lean into the Church Community
One of satan’s sneakiest tricks is trying to isolate us in our doubt. When we wrestle with questions of doubt or feat it’s tempting to keep to ourselves, but Scripture reminds us that we were never meant to walk this journey called of life alone.
The church and local Bible studies are gifts from God. They were designed to strengthen our faith in tough times. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us,
“Let’s consider how to provide one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”
Friendships with other believers provide encouragement, accountability, and reminders of God’s truth.
Consider what Proverbs 27:17 says,
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
God uses churches and fellowship with other believers to help us grow stronger, especially in moments of doubt.
Sometimes hearing someone else affirm God’s promises and His love can reignite our faith in ways we couldn’t achieve on our own.
Let the church be your safety net, whether it’s attending a Bible study, or joining a small prayer meeting, leaning on others can help us overcome doubt. We don’t have to carry the weight of doubt alone. God placed people in our lives to walk with us through it all.
6. Learn to trust God in your daily life
We can trust God in the details of our daily life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking God is too busy running the universe to care about our problems, but Scripture tells us a different story.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus reminds us that if God cares about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, He certainly cares for us. He knows exactly what we need when we need it and promises to provide for us.
The key to trusting God daily is developing habits that keep our focus on Him. Praying, Bible reading and gratitude is a ways to stay focused on Him.
God is deeply involved in our lives, even when we can’t see it. Trusting Him in the daily details will not only help us overcome doubt but also help us draw closer to His heart.
7. Pray with honesty and persistence
If we want to know how to overcome doubt we should start by talking to the One who knows us best. Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have, but it’s easy to forget that it doesn’t need to be polished perfectly. Some of the most effective prayers are the ones that come from a place of raw honesty.
Psalms is a perfect example of this. They are filled with David’s unfiltered cries to God,
“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” -Psalm 10:1
David didn’t hold back his doubts and fears, and neither should we. Honest prayers are a way of inviting God into the messiness of our thoughts and allowing Him to bring us peace and clarity.
Remember prayer isn’t just about asking for things, it’s about growing closer to God. As we pour out our hearts to Him, we will discover that doubt begins to fade and is replaced by the assurance of His love and presence.
Our doubts don’t have to derail our faith. In fact, it can be a stepping stone to a stronger, deeper relationship with God.
From Pity to Praise 