“Be merciful to those who doubt.” Jude 1:22 (NIV)
Have you ever doubted God? If we’re honest, we’ve all had moments of doubt. Yet as Christians, we sometimes are afraid to admit it. We wonder if others might question our faith. We also fear God would be disappointed in us.
Maybe you’ve wondered:
- Is God even listening to my prayers?
- Why do some prayers seem to go unanswered?
- Am I praying the right way?
- If God is good, why is this happening?
- Has He really forgiven me…even for that?
- Did I hear God wrong?
So what do we do with our doubts? We take them to God.
God proclaimed King David a man after His own heart because of his great faith (Acts 13:22). David frequently wrestled with doubt and fear.
But David didn’t let these put space between himself and God. Instead of hiding his questions, he brought them honestly to the Lord in prayer.
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1–2).
Sometimes the enemy tries to make us feel we shouldn’t share our doubts. He whispers questions that make us doubt ourselves or feel ashamed of our faith. But the truth is, doubts aren’t a sign of small faith. It’s what we do with them that matters. We can use our doubts as an opportunity to draw closer to God and His family.
Dear one, if God can handle our doubts and fears, we can safely bring them to His family, too. We don’t have to carry them alone. When we share our struggles with trusted brothers and sisters in Christ, we gain encouragement, prayer, perspective, and support. We see that we are not alone, and we experience God’s love flowing through His people.
In God’s family, we are not meant to judge one another, but to come alongside with love and understanding, building each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We are also called to be merciful, even to those who struggle or doubt: “Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude 1:22, NIV).
Even some of the heroes of our faith wrestled with questions. Moses asked God why He had chosen him to lead His people (Exodus 3:11), Elijah doubted whether God was still with him after facing intense opposition (1 Kings 19:10), and Thomas openly admitted he needed proof of Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:24–25). Yet in each instance, when these men honestly admitted their doubts to God, He used them in mighty ways to accomplish His purposes.
Doubting God is not a sign of weak faith. We are human, and questions will come. Yet when we bring those questions to the Lord, He can use them to draw us closer to Him, deepen our trust, and strengthen our faith. We can also share them with a trusted Christian friend or mentor who can encourage and pray for us.
As we experience God’s faithfulness, we can offer that same grace and compassion to others struggling with their own doubts.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can bring our doubts, fears, and questions to You without fear of judgment. Help us to be honest in our prayers, just as David, Moses, and Thomas were. Teach us to seek counsel and encouragement within Your family and to show mercy, grace, and love to others who are struggling. Strengthen our faith, deepen our trust, and unite us in a community that reflects Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
