Some time ago I was reading a discussion between two Christian leaders as to whether or not we can have doubt within a valid faith.  One of them said that he has many doubts, and that he even admitted to his congregation that he has doubts, but the other leader said that doubts were not to be allowed to continue in the Christian life.

The first leader was trying to be open about his weaknesses.  He wanted people to know that he wasn’t sure about everything within the Christian life.  The other leader pushed him, stating that doubts come from Satan, and must be rebuked.

What I found missing in the discussion was their being specific about what kind of doubts.  Certainly, Christians have all sorts of doubts in life, just like anyone.  To pretend that we don’t have doubts would be dishonest, and to ask Christians to live without doubts would be asking them to stop being human.

Doubts are a part of life, even for the Christian.  What we need to talk about regarding our doubts are what kind of doubts we have, and what the Bible says about those doubts.

I believe that for the Christian most of our doubts arise from our own weaknesses and our own lack of understanding God.  No matter how much we come to know about the Bible, there is so much more that we don’t know.  

Even though God reveals much about His nature to us, we still cannot know ALL about what He reveals, because our God is infinite, and we are finite.

In addition, even though we are saved as Christians, there are things that we are not able to handle or to do on our own, and although we have the Holy Spirit within us to enable us, our weaknesses can still at times lead to doubts.   When we are confronted by our own limitations we may begin to doubt our ability to truly live out the Christian life.

For example, God tells us that we are to go out and disciple all nations.   In order to disciple someone as a Christian that person must first be a Christian.  That means that you may need to share the gospel with that person so that prayerfully they will come to believe.  But you may not feel you can share the gospel with someone to lead them to Christ, and so you begin to doubt.

God tells us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.  You may know people within your community that are so different than you, or who so despise how you live your life, that you are not certain you can love them; so again you may begin to doubt.

Maybe you have lost loved ones who didn’t believe in Jesus as Savior.  You are heartbroken and confused as to how otherwise “good people” can be lost forever.  Once again you begin to doubt.

I want you to know that these doubts are all very normal.  I would imagine that most Christians have struggled with these, or similar issues, in their walk with Christ.  But I want you to notice where these doubts all arise from.   They come from your inability to do something for Christ on your own, or from your inability to comprehend the power or holiness or righteousness of God.

In these kinds of doubts, you are not doubting what God did for you in and through Jesus Christ; of that you are certain.  You are doubting because there is something you don’t fully understand about God, or because you realize that on your own you can’t do all the things God has called you to do.

Friend, that is why Jesus said in John 15:5 – “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”  It is only through Him and His strength that you can do what He calls you to do. (Philippians 4:13)  In other words, just as you couldn’t save yourself, you can’t do the things God calls you to do apart from the power of Christ within you.     (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Jesus knows that left to yourself you would have trouble loving people who are very much like you, let alone loving people who are totally different from you.  That is why Jesus wants to love people through you.  

You know how much Jesus loves you, and so you know how much He can love others through you.  So, when it comes to God’s love, you don’t doubt God’s love, you doubt your ability to pass that love along.

You know how wonderful God’s salvation is; that is why you put your faith in Jesus.  You also know that others told you about Jesus in one way or another, so you don’t really doubt the ways of sharing the gospel, you simply doubt your ability to do so on your own.  

In regards to sharing the gospel, remember that it is simply your task to tell others what Jesus did for them.  It is God who works on their heart, and brings them to Christ.  God saves people, not you.

Lastly you might begin to doubt in light of someone you love having died, possibly without faith in Jesus as their Savior.  I understand.  I have been there.  But as you spend time in God’s Word, and as you spend time with Christ in prayer, you can come to understand more fully what a Holy God He is.  

You begin to realize what a Righteous God He is.  And you also begin to better understand what a Just God He is.   That is His nature – Holy, Just, and Righteous.  That does not mean you will know what eternity may await your loved one, but you know that whatever God decides about that person will be a holy, just, and righteous decision.

When you better understand His nature, then you realize that He will never make a decision about anyone that is not a holy, just, and righteous decision.   That is when doubts about God begin to diminish.  You will still be concerned for your loved ones because you love them, but there are no doubts about God.

You see, you will always have doubts about yourself or other people, but you need not have doubts about God.  His character is beyond question.  His love is without limits.  But His ways are beyond our ability to fully understand them.  

As it says in Romans 11:33 – “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”  Nonetheless, He reveals to us that His nature is unquestionably faithful to you, even if you are not always faithful to Him.

So back to the discussion between the two men; of course I will have doubts from time to time about myself, and of course I will have doubts about others.   I imagine I will also continue to doubt that I properly understand all of what God says in the Bible.  But I am absolutely certain that I never need to doubt God, or His love for me in and through Jesus.

Choose life; choose Christ.