March 21, 2025
Mark 9:23-24
“Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
We have been talking a lot this week about faith and trust. I want to conclude our week of devotions with reflecting on the role doubt plays in our faith journey. In my early walk with Christ, I believed that doubt was wrong, that to question some of the teachings in the Bible was a sign of disrespecting God. To be truthful, I carried a great deal of shame about doubt. I have a feeling some of you know what I am talking about.
Theologian Paul Tillich put it this way, Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light breaks through. In other words, doubt is not the enemy and not something that needs to be fought. It needs to be understood, expressed, and used.
Let’s look at how the Bible highlights the doubters.
Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s promise of a child; actually they laughed at it. (Genesis 16-18)
“Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
We have been talking a lot this week about faith and trust. I want to conclude our week of devotions with reflecting on the role doubt plays in our faith journey. In my early walk with Christ, I believed that doubt was wrong, that to question some of the teachings in the Bible was a sign of disrespecting God. To be truthful, I carried a great deal of shame about doubt. I have a feeling some of you know what I am talking about.
Theologian Paul Tillich put it this way, Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light breaks through. In other words, doubt is not the enemy and not something that needs to be fought. It needs to be understood, expressed, and used.
Let’s look at how the Bible highlights the doubters.
Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s promise of a child; actually they laughed at it. (Genesis 16-18)
Asaph doubted because the wicked prospered and he doubted the value of serving God. (1 Chronicles 16:4-7, Psalm 73)
Gideon doubted God could use him to turn the tide against Israel’s oppressors. (Judges 6-8)
The Nation of Israel seemed to be in a constant state of doubt.
Thomas, Jesus’ disciple, doubted Jesus rose from the dead. (John 20:24-29)
I could go on, but the point is the Bible is full of people that doubted, even some of the main characters do.
Doubt is not disbelief, these are two separate issues. God doesn’t condemn us for asking questions. Jesus didn’t condemn Thomas for wanting to see the nail holes in his hands. Moses wasn’t reprimanded asking why him. And Abraham and Sarah still received God’s promise despite laughing in doubt.
Let's always remember that God is interested in our hearts, not some artificial relationship in which we act one way but feel the opposite. Sometimes what’s going on inside of us is doubt!! We cannot hide it from God, and that’s not what God wants. We shouldn’t be afraid or ashamed to bring our doubts to God. God is not wanting to condemn us for our lack of faith. Rather, God wants to instruct us, teach us, restore and strengthen us through or doubts and questions. I believe that can only happen when we honestly open our hearts to him.
Doubt is not disbelief, these are two separate issues. God doesn’t condemn us for asking questions. Jesus didn’t condemn Thomas for wanting to see the nail holes in his hands. Moses wasn’t reprimanded asking why him. And Abraham and Sarah still received God’s promise despite laughing in doubt.
Let's always remember that God is interested in our hearts, not some artificial relationship in which we act one way but feel the opposite. Sometimes what’s going on inside of us is doubt!! We cannot hide it from God, and that’s not what God wants. We shouldn’t be afraid or ashamed to bring our doubts to God. God is not wanting to condemn us for our lack of faith. Rather, God wants to instruct us, teach us, restore and strengthen us through or doubts and questions. I believe that can only happen when we honestly open our hearts to him.
Jesus said in our verse, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” I take that to mean that God can use our doubts to produce in us a richer faith. That is what we see, in Mark, chapter 9 isn't it?
A father approaches Jesus with the desire to see his son healed of an impure spirit. The man says to Jesus, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. Jesus replies, “If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes”. Jesus can see that the man doubts Jesus’ ability to heal his son. The man then recognizes his doubt and immediately says, “I do believe; help me with my unbelief”. That's a good prayer to start with.
This man is clearly wrestling with doubts. He has trouble believing that Jesus is really powerful enough to heal his son, but instead of giving up, he asks Jesus for help with his disbelief. Looking at this story, we can take note of how the man handles and confronts his doubt. Just as Tim Keller wrote, “we ought to acknowledge the areas of our faith that are confusing or hard to trust to begin to make our relationship with Jesus our very own.” Notice, the man in Mark 9 didn’t just believe in Jesus because of the faith of those around him, rather, He asked Jesus himself to help him with his confusion, doubts and questioning.
I have learned to embrace the doubt in my faith. It makes it richer in a way. My doubts have actually pushed me closer to God. If you are facing doubt in your faith I would encourage you to do the same. Don’t push your doubt aside. Embrace it. Sit with it.
Turn to God and ask Him to help build your faith and give you a stronger foundation. Pray “I do believe; help me with my unbelief”. Let your doubt lead you closer to Jesus.
This man is clearly wrestling with doubts. He has trouble believing that Jesus is really powerful enough to heal his son, but instead of giving up, he asks Jesus for help with his disbelief. Looking at this story, we can take note of how the man handles and confronts his doubt. Just as Tim Keller wrote, “we ought to acknowledge the areas of our faith that are confusing or hard to trust to begin to make our relationship with Jesus our very own.” Notice, the man in Mark 9 didn’t just believe in Jesus because of the faith of those around him, rather, He asked Jesus himself to help him with his confusion, doubts and questioning.
I have learned to embrace the doubt in my faith. It makes it richer in a way. My doubts have actually pushed me closer to God. If you are facing doubt in your faith I would encourage you to do the same. Don’t push your doubt aside. Embrace it. Sit with it.
Turn to God and ask Him to help build your faith and give you a stronger foundation. Pray “I do believe; help me with my unbelief”. Let your doubt lead you closer to Jesus.
Amen.
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