April 21, 2025 • 22 mins
Faith and doubt aren't enemies – they're dance partners in an authentic spiritual journey. This first episode of our two-part series tackles the provocative question: Is doubt actually a sin? The answer might surprise you.
Stepping beyond shallow platitudes, we dive deep into Scripture's raw portrayal of doubt. From the desperate father crying "I believe; help my unbelief" to Thomas demanding physical proof of resurrection, the Bible doesn't hide spiritual struggle – it highlights it. What's stunning is how Jesus responds to these moments not with condemnation but with compassion and presence.
We carefully distinguish doubt (faith in process) from unbelief (willful rejection), exploring how spiritual giants like David, Job, and even Jesus himself experienced profound questioning. Their stories reveal that doubt isn't spiritual weakness but often the crucible where stronger faith emerges. As Timothy Keller notes, faith without questioning risks becoming mere superstition rather than genuine conviction.
Perhaps most poignantly, we address doubt born from church hurt and spiritual abuse. When those representing God cause pain, disillusionment naturally follows. Yet even here, Scripture offers healing perspectives, showing how Jesus himself confronted religious hypocrisy while tenderly caring for the wounded.
Whether your questions stem from intellectual wrestling, painful experiences, or life's unavoidable complexities, this episode offers practical steps for navigating doubt without shame. Join us as we discover how our questions, honestly brought before God, can become the very pathway to deeper wisdom and more resilient faith.
Don't miss part two where we'll explore intellectual doubts, the gift of mystery, and how all roads of honest questioning lead back to Jesus. Your spiritual journey – questions and all – matters deeply to God.
I would love to hear from you!
For listeners looking to deepen their engagement with the topics discussed, visit our website or check out our devotionals and poetry on Amazon, with all proceeds supporting The New York School of The Bible at Calvary Baptist Church. Stay connected and enriched on your spiritual path with us!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Compass Chronicles podcast.
Where faith meets fandom, lifegets real and every step of your
journey reveals a deeperpurpose.
This is Javier, your host andfellow traveler on this winding
road of faith, whether you'retuning in from your car, your
kitchen or your favorite readingspot.
I'm glad you're here Today.
We're beginning a two-partjourney into a topic that
doesn't always get the spotlightit deserves, which is doubt.
(00:20):
Specifically, we're asking thequestion is doubt a sin?
And, spoiler alert, we're goingto find that doubt, rather than
being a spiritual defect, mightactually be a stepping stone
toward a deeper, more resilientfaith.
This isn't just aboutphilosophical pondering.
This is about real life, thosemoments when our faith wobbles,
whether in a hospital room aftera painful breakup, or in a
season of silence where God justseems absent.
(00:42):
And yet scripture doesn'tsilence those questions.
It gives them a voice.
In this first part, we'llexplore what the Bible says
about doubt, look at realexamples from scripture and
wrestle with how doubt shows upwhen life gets messy or when the
church itself becomes a sourceof pain.
Part two will dive intointellectual doubts, the gift of
mystery and how all of thispoints us back to Jesus.
So let's get started, but first, let's pray together.
(01:05):
Heavenly Father, thank you forbeing big enough to handle our
questions.
Thank you that you meet us inthe mess, not just in our
moments of clarity.
As we explore doubt today, giveus hearts that are open minds
that are hungry for truth, and aspirit that's tender toward
your voice.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Doubt it's not exactly the wordwe expect to hear in a church
service or a Bible study.
(01:26):
In fact, in many Christiancircles, just admitting that we
struggle with doubt can feellike confessing a secret sin.
It's the elephant in the pew,the thing we all wrestle with at
some point, but hardly anyonewants to talk about out loud.
And yet, if we open the pagesof Scripture, we find doubt
sitting in the middle of thestory more often than we think.
Let's start with a powerfulscene from the Gospel of Mark.
(01:48):
In Mark, chapter 9, verse 24, adesperate father brings his
afflicted son to Jesus.
With raw honesty he pleads, Ibelieve, help my unbelief.
That moment, so simple and soprofound, captures the tension
so many of us feel.
We believe, yes, but there'salso a tug of uncertainty, a
part of us that hesitates,questions, even fears.
And Jesus doesn't rebuke theman, he doesn't say come back
(02:09):
when you've got your faith allsorted out.
No, jesus heals his son.
He responds with compassion andpower.
That interaction tells ussomething significant.
Jesus meets us in the middle ofour belief and our unbelief,
that sacred in-between place.
It's not off limits.
In fact, it might just be wheretransformation happens.
To move forward, we have toclarify something Doubt is not
(02:29):
the same as unbelief.
They're close cousins, maybeeven siblings, but they're not
identical twins.
Unbelief is a willful rejectionof God's truth.
It's the decision to say I hearwhat you say, god, but I choose
not to trust you.
That's what we see in thehardened hearts of the Pharisees
who witnessed Jesus' miraclesand still plotted to destroy him
.
Doubt, on the other hand, isthe space where faith is still
(02:50):
working things out.
It's what happens when our headand our heart aren't quite on
the same page yet, when we'retrying to believe but we have
questions and the good newsScripture gives us plenty of
room to be in that space.
Take the book of Psalms.
It's full of cries like howlong, o Lord, and why have you
forsaken me?
That's not sanitizedspirituality.
That's faith in process.
David, who penned many of thosePsalms, was called a man after
(03:13):
God's own heart, not because henever doubted, but because even
in his doubt he turned towardGod.
Timothy Keller, in the Reasonfor God, explains that doubt,
when approached sincerely, canserve as a refining fire for
faith.
It burns away superficialbeliefs and forces us to ask
what do I really believe and why?
Keller writes that faithwithout some level of
questioning is more likesuperstition than conviction.
(03:34):
Real faith grows stronger whenit's been tested.
And, let's be real, some of uswere handed a version of
Christianity that didn't prepareus for this.
Maybe we grew up hearing theBible says it, I believe it, and
that settles it.
There's a simplicity and beautyin childlike faith.
But when we face complex lifeissues, when the doctor's report
is bad, when the job fallsthrough, when we lose someone we
(03:54):
love, suddenly just believeharder doesn't feel like enough.
That's when doubt enters thescene.
But instead of seeing doubt asan enemy, what if we saw it as
an opportunity?
Cs Lewis, one of the mostinfluential Christian writers of
the 20th century, didn't cometo faith through blind
acceptance.
He came by way of rigorousquestioning In Mere Christianity
(04:15):
.
He explains that his journey tobelief was filled with
intellectual and emotionalstruggle.
He describes his conversion asbeing dragged, kicking and
screaming into the kingdom.
That doesn't sound like thepolished testimony we hear on
stage, but it's honest andrelatable.
Lewis later wrote that faith isthe art of holding on to things
your reason has once accepted,in spite of your changing moods.
That quote has anchored manybelievers who find themselves
(04:36):
swaying between belief anduncertainty.
Faith, in other words, is notthe absence of doubt, it's the
choice to trust in the presenceof doubt.
We can't have a conversationabout doubt without talking
about Thomas.
You know, doubting Thomas,that's the label he's been stuck
with for centuries.
But if we look at his storyclosely in John chapter 20, we
see something profound.
After the resurrection, theother disciples tell Thomas
(04:58):
we've seen the Lord.
But Thomas replies unless I seethe nail marks in his hands and
put my finger where the nailswere, I will not believe.
It's a strong statement, butnot without reason.
Thomas wanted to believe.
He just needed proof.
And what does Jesus do?
He shows up.
He meets Thomas right in hisplace of doubt.
He doesn't shame him or excludehim from the group.
Instead he says Put your fingerhere, see my hands, stop
(05:21):
doubting and believe.
Thomas responds with adeclaration of worship.
That's not just a redemptionstory.
It's a model for how Jesushandles our uncertainty.
He doesn't dismiss us.
He invites us closer.
So if scripture gives uspermission to doubt, and if even
the heroes of our faith David,job, thomas and more experienced
it, why do we treat it like aspiritual disease?
(05:43):
Part of the reason is fear.
We fear what we don'tunderstand.
We fear where our questionsmight lead.
What if asking one questionopens a floodgate of uncertainty
?
What if it shakes thefoundation of what we've always
believed?
But here's the truth If ourfaith can't withstand honest
questions it's not as sturdy aswe thought and if we truly
believe that God is real, thatHis word is true and that Jesus
(06:05):
is who he says he is, thenChristianity should be the most
intellectually and spirituallyresilient worldview on the
planet.
Doubt doesn't have to be adetour.
It can be a catalyst.
So what do you do when you'rein that foggy middle ground,
believing but struggling?
Here are a few steps that cananchor you.
Acknowledge it.
Pretending the doubt isn'tthere doesn't make it go away.
Name it.
Be honest in prayer, like thepsalmist were.
(06:26):
Remember God already knowswhat's in your heart.
Talk to trusted believers.
Find someone who won't shameyou for asking hard questions,
whether it's a mentor, a pastoror a small group member.
Talking through your doubt canbring clarity.
Dig into scripture not just thefeel-good verses but the whole
counsel of God.
Ask what does the Bibleactually say about this topic?
Use a study Bible or commentaryto guide you deeper.
(06:49):
Read widely Books like theReason for God by Tim Keller,
mere Christianity by CS Lewisand even writings by John Calvin
or Charles Spurgeon can giverich insight from those who've
walked the same road.
Pray for wisdom.
James 1, verse 5 says If any ofyou lacks wisdom, let him ask
God, who gives generously to allwithout reproach, and it will
(07:12):
be given him.
Doubt can be the beginning of adeeper wisdom if we bring it to
the Lord.
There's something refreshinglyraw about the Bible.
It doesn't try to gloss overthe gritty parts of the human
experience.
It's not afraid to show uspeople in the middle of their
deepest struggles, especiallywhen those struggles involve
questioning God.
If doubt were a sin, you'dexpect the Bible to keep it
hidden, tucked away behind theglowing stories of faith and
miracles.
But it doesn't.
Instead, it brings thosestories of wrestling right into
(07:34):
the light.
One of the most powerfulexamples of this comes from a
man named Job.
His story opens with tragedy,unimaginable loss His wealth,
his children, his health, allgone in a matter of moments.
If anyone had reason to doubtthe goodness or justice of God,
it was Job, and he doesn't staysilent about it.
In Job, chapter 3, verse 11, hecries out why did I not perish
(07:54):
at birth and die as I came fromthe womb?
That's not just a bad day,that's despair.
Speaking, that's a mangrappling with God in the depths
of suffering.
And what's so striking is thatGod doesn't rebuke Job for
asking those questions.
In fact, by the end of the book, god affirms Job's honesty.
Even when Job's friends try todefend God with overly
simplistic answers, god says inJob, chapter 42, verse 7, you
(08:17):
have not spoken of me.
What is right, as my servant,job has Let that sink in.
The man who yelled, cried andquestioned is the one God says
got it right.
Because Job was honest.
He brought his full hurtingheart to God rather than
pretending everything was okay.
This brings us to a criticalinsight.
Doubt is not the opposite offaith.
Apathy is when you doubt.
You're still engaging, you'restill in the ring, wrestling it
(08:38):
out.
That's what we see with Job.
He never stopped talking to God, even when he was angry or
confused.
He didn't turn away and God methim there.
The same is true in the storyof Jacob, who literally wrestles
with God in Genesis, chapter 32.
The narrative describes amysterious figure, often
interpreted as a manifestationof God or an angel, who wrestles
with Jacob all night.
Jacob refuses to let go untilhe receives a blessing, and by
(09:02):
morning not only does he getthat blessing, but he's given a
new name Israel, which means hestruggles with God.
That's not just a name, it's alegacy.
The entire nation of Israel isnamed after a man who physically
and spiritually wrestled withthe Almighty.
That's a divine endorsement ofhonest struggle.
So if you've ever felt likewrestling with God disqualifies
you from faith, jacob's storysays otherwise.
(09:24):
Sometimes the ones who wrestlethe hardest receive the greatest
clarity and calling.
Another towering figure in theBible who wrestled deeply with
doubt is David.
We know David as the shepherdboy who became king, the man who
killed Goliath and the poetbehind most of the Psalms.
He's described in 1 Samuel,chapter 13, verse 14, as a man
after God's own heart.
But have you ever stopped andread some of the things David
(09:46):
wrote In Psalm 13, verses 1 and2, david pleads how long, o Lord
, will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide yourface from me?
How long must I wrestle with mythoughts and, day after day,
have sorrow in my heart?
That doesn't sound like someonecruising on spiritual autopilot
.
That sounds like a man whofeels abandoned, confused and
deeply alone.
And yet in that same psalm,just a few verses later, he
(10:09):
declares in verse 5, but I trustin your unfailing love.
My heart rejoices in yoursalvation.
Do you see the movement there,from despair to trust, from
doubt to worship?
That's not spiritual whiplash,it's honest, messy faith.
David never denies his doubts,he brings them.
Now let's turn to Jeremiah.
Often called the weeping prophet, he had one of the hardest jobs
(10:29):
in scripture deliveringmessages of judgment and warning
to a rebellious people whodidn't want to hear it, and it
broke him.
In Jeremiah, chapter 20, verse7, he says to God you deceived
me, lord, and I was deceived.
You overpowered me andprevailed I am.
That's not the voice of someonewho's coasting through
obedience.
That's a prophet questioningthe very God who called him.
(10:51):
And yet God doesn't zapJeremiah for irreverence.
He lets him speak, he lets himcry, he lets him question.
That's not weak faith.
It's raw, resilient faith, afaith that doesn't need to put
on a happy face to be acceptedby God.
Even Jesus himself had a momentof soul-deep wrestling.
In Matthew, chapter 26, verse39,.
As he prayed in the garden thenight before his crucifixion, he
(11:12):
cried out my Father, if it ispossible, let this cup pass from
me.
Nevertheless, not as I will,but as you will.
Jesus wasn't doubting God'sexistence or character, but he
was experiencing the full weightof what was to come, and it
pressed him to the point ofsweating blood, as we're told in
Luke, chapter 22, verse 44.
That moment tells us that eventhe Son of God experienced
internal conflict.
(11:33):
Even he had a moment of askingIs there another way?
And that moment is recorded,not to weaken our view of Christ
, but to show us his completehumanity.
It assures us that Jesusunderstands our moments of doubt
, not just intellectually butexperientially, as the writer of
Hebrews puts it in Hebrews 4,verse 15, for we do not have a
high priest who is unable tosympathize with our weaknesses,
(11:54):
but one who, in every respect,has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin.
That means your questions don'tscare him.
Your wrestling doesn't repulsehim, he gets it, he's been there
.
So here's a key takeaway Honestdoubt can lead to a more honest
, more mature faith.
Think of it like this when abuilder wants to test the
strength of a structure, theydon't pat it gently, they apply
pressure, they stress it, theyput weight on it.
(12:16):
The goal isn't to break it, butto make sure it holds.
That's what doubt does to ourfaith.
It applies pressure, it exposesweaknesses and, when handled
rightly, it leads us toreinforce the foundation, to ask
better questions, to go deeperin scripture, to find clarity
and conviction in God's truth.
That's why Paul writes in 2Corinthians 13, verse 5, examine
(12:38):
yourselves to see whether youare in the faith.
Test yourselves.
That kind of self-examinationisn't a sin, it's a command and
it's a healthy part of spiritualgrowth.
Unfortunately, not every churchculture creates room for that
kind of examination.
Some communities, whetherintentionally or not, treat
doubt like a virus that must beeradicated immediately.
People with questions arehushed, sidelined or given quick
(12:59):
, shallow answers.
But when we do that, we riskcreating an atmosphere of
performance instead oftransformation.
The early church didn't operatelike that.
In Acts, chapter 15, we see theApostles wrestling with a huge
theological question Do Gentilebelievers need to follow Jewish
law.
That's not a small issue, andinstead of sweeping it under the
rug, the leaders gathered inJerusalem to debate, study
(13:20):
Scripture and seek the HolySpirit's guidance.
That process was messy, but itwas holy.
The takeaway a healthy churchisn't afraid of tough questions.
It leans into them with graceand truth.
There's something else we can'tmiss here Doubt is easier to
navigate when we're not alone.
In Galatians, chapter 6, verse 2, paul urges the church to bear
one another's burdens and sofulfill the law of Christ.
(13:41):
Doubt is one of those burdens.
It can feel crushing whencarried in isolation, but
lighter when shared in community.
That's why it's so important tohave spiritual friendships.
People who don't flinch whenyou say I'm not sure what I
believe about this or this partof the Bible confuses me.
Friends who don't rush to fixyou, but who sit with you,
listen, pray and point you backto truth.
That kind of community can makeall the difference.
(14:03):
Let's be honest for a minute.
Some of the deepest spiritualwounds don't come from atheists
or skeptics.
They come from within the wallsof the church.
And when that happens, thefallout can be intense.
It's one thing to wrestle withtheology or cultural challenges
to your faith, but it'ssomething else entirely to feel
betrayed by the very people whowere supposed to walk with you
in grace, truth and love.
So what do we do when our doubtis less about doctrine and more
(14:25):
about damage?
It's a question more and morebelievers are asking, and not
just those on the fringes.
Many who have been deeplyembedded in church life are
starting to wrestle with doubtafter experiencing spiritual
abuse, manipulation, hypocrisyor deep disappointment.
These aren't small offenses.
They shake our confidence notonly in church leadership, but
sometimes in the very God thoseleaders represent.
(14:45):
Here's something we need toaffirm right up front Doubt that
arises from pain is valid.
It doesn't mean you're weak.
It means you're human.
If someone you trusted misusedtheir power, misrepresented
scripture or failed to practicewhat they preached, and that
experience left you questioningwhat's real and who God truly is
, you're not alone and you'renot wrong for feeling
disoriented.
One of the greatest tragediesin Christian culture is when
(15:10):
hurting believers are toldthings like you just need to
forgive and move on or don't letyour feelings cloud your faith.
But those responses don't heal,they dismiss.
And when pain gets dismissed,doubt often festers in the
shadows.
Let's look at scripture to seewhat God says, not just about
faith and doubt, but aboutinjustice and woundedness.
Jesus had strong words forreligious leaders who misused
their influence.
In Matthew, chapter 23, heunleashes a series of scathing
(15:32):
rebukes against the Pharisees.
Verse 27 says Woe to you,scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites, for you are likewhitewashed tombs which
outwardly appear beautiful butwithin are full of dead people's
bones and all uncleanness.
That's not just colorfullanguage, that's the Son of God
standing up against spiritualdeception and hypocrisy.
He wasn't indifferent toreligious leaders abusing power.
(15:53):
He confronted it head on.
So if you've been hurt byleaders who wore a mask of
righteousness but operated withcontrol, manipulation or even
cruelty behind the scenes, jesussees that and he cares.
The gospel isn't on the side ofthe oppressor.
It's on the side of the broken,the wounded and the seeking.
We sometimes romanticize theearly church as a perfect
community of harmony and love,and while it was certainly
(16:14):
spirit-filled and committed toChrist, it was also deeply human
.
In Galatians, chapter 2, weread about a conflict between
the apostle Paul and the apostlePeter.
Paul calls Peter out publiclybecause Peter was behaving
hypocritically, eating withGentiles in private but
distancing himself from them inpublic when other Jews were
around.
Paul writes in verse 14, I sawthat their conduct was not in
(16:35):
step with the truth of thegospel.
That's a huge deal.
Even Peter the Rock, on whomChrist said he would build his
church, had moments of moralfailure and inconsistency, and
scripture doesn't hide it.
Instead, it documents it toshow that even leaders need
correction and that the gospelis bigger than any one person's
behavior.
If you've experienced churchhurt, please know this.
You are not alone in historyand you are not forgotten by God
(16:57):
.
The word disillusionmentliterally means the removal of
an illusion, and that canactually be a painful gift.
Many of us enter the churchexpecting it to be a refuge from
the messiness of life, and inmany ways it should be.
But when we realize that thechurch is filled with broken
people who sometimes wound eachother, we face a crossroads.
We can let our disillusionmentdrive us away from faith
entirely, or we can let it stripaway false expectations and
(17:20):
lead us toward a more real,resilient faith.
Let's be clear that doesn'tmean excusing abusive behavior.
There's no spiritual merit inpretending something wasn't
wrong but it does meanrecognizing that God is not
synonymous with the people whomisrepresent him.
Just because someone acted inGod's name doesn't mean they
reflected God's heart, and whenthat distinction becomes clear,
it can actually be a turningpoint in your journey, not
(17:42):
toward cynicism but towardclarity.
So what do you do when you're inthat place, when you're unsure
whether you can trust churchagain, or even whether you want
to?
Here are a few gentle, honeststeps forward.
Acknowledge the pain.
Denial doesn't protect faith,it poisons it.
If you've been hurt, don't tryto downplay it.
Bring it into the light,whether that means talking to a
counselor, a trusted friend orwriting it out in a journal.
(18:04):
Just get it out of the shadows.
Separate God from people.
People are made in God's image,but they are not God.
If someone failed you, lied toyou or manipulated you, that
reflects their brokenness, notGod's character.
Go back to scripture and ask whois Jesus really.
Let him reintroduce himself toyou.
Give yourself time.
(18:24):
Healing doesn't happenovernight.
You don't have to rush backinto church attendance or
ministry involvement.
Take time to process, time torebuild and, yes, time to doubt.
Wrestle and be honest.
Seek healthy spiritualcommunity.
Not every church is the same.
While some may have beenunhealthy or even toxic, there
are others led by humble,spirit-led people who genuinely
want to reflect Jesus.
Finding that kind of communitymight take effort, but it's
(18:45):
worth it.
Invite God into the pain.
This one is key.
Don't just ask God to removethe pain.
Invite Him to sit with you init.
Let Him speak to you throughScripture, through stillness,
through the gentle nudging ofHis Spirit.
He doesn't just fix our wounds,he walks with us through them.
One of the most comfortingimages in all of Scripture is
found in Psalm 23.
In verse 4, david writes that'sthe promise, not that we'll
(19:12):
never walk through darkness, butthat we will not walk it alone.
Jesus describes himself in John,chapter 10, verse 11, as the
good shepherd who lays down hislife for the sheep.
That's who he is.
He's not distant from your hurt.
He's not ashamed of yourquestions.
He's not impatient with yourgrief.
He lays not ashamed of yourquestions.
He's not impatient with yourgrief.
He lays Himself down for you.
If you've been disillusioned bychurch, let Jesus be your
(19:33):
shepherd.
Let Him lead you beside stillwaters.
Let Him restore your soul.
Healing from church hurt is nota linear journey.
Some days you might feel hope,other days anger and still
others confusion.
That's okay.
Restoration is not aboutreturning to where you were
before.
It's about moving forward withnew wisdom and a more grounded
faith.
Sometimes the most healingthing you can do is to read
scripture, not as a to-do listbut as a love letter.
(19:56):
Spend time in the gospels, watchhow Jesus treated the outcasts,
the doubters, the brokenhearted.
That's your savior, that's yourmodel of faith.
And remember restoration is notabout pretending the hurt
didn't happen.
It's about believing that Godis still good even when people
are not.
In Isaiah, chapter 42, verse 3,we're told a bruised reed he
will not break and a faintlyburning wick he will not quench.
(20:16):
God is gentle with the wounded.
He doesn't crush the fragile,he restores them.
So if your flame of faith feelslike it's barely flickering,
know this he's not here to blowit out, he's here to fan it back
to life.
Well, friends, that's wherewe'll pause, for today We've
walked through the raw realityof doubt, how it shows up in
scripture, how it tests ourfaith and how it can emerge from
the pain of life or even thechurch.
(20:38):
Next time, in part 2, we'llpick up with the intellectual
side of doubt, those head versusheart moments, and explore how
mystery, maturity and hope alllead us back to Jesus.
I hope you'll join me then, fornow, if this stirred something
in you.
Don't hesitate to reach out.
Visit us atwwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg.
Email me at jm atthecrossroadscollectiveorg.
We'd love to pray with you orjust listen.
(21:00):
This is Javier signing off fromthe Compass Chronicles.
Keep the compass steady, keepwalking and I'll see you for
part two.
God bless you and take care.
(21:38):
Thank you.
Welcome to the Compass Chronicles podcast.
Where faith meets fandom, lifegets real and every step of your
journey reveals a deeperpurpose.
This is Javier, your host andfellow traveler on this winding
road of faith, whether you'retuning in from your car, your
kitchen or your favorite readingspot.
I'm glad you're here Today.
We're beginning a two-partjourney into a topic that
doesn't always get the spotlightit deserves, which is doubt.
(00:20):
Specifically, we're asking thequestion is doubt a sin?
And, spoiler alert, we're goingto find that doubt, rather than
being a spiritual defect, mightactually be a stepping stone
toward a deeper, more resilientfaith.
This isn't just aboutphilosophical pondering.
This is about real life, thosemoments when our faith wobbles,
whether in a hospital room aftera painful breakup, or in a
season of silence where God justseems absent.
(00:42):
And yet scripture doesn'tsilence those questions.
It gives them a voice.
In this first part, we'llexplore what the Bible says
about doubt, look at realexamples from scripture and
wrestle with how doubt shows upwhen life gets messy or when the
church itself becomes a sourceof pain.
Part two will dive intointellectual doubts, the gift of
mystery and how all of thispoints us back to Jesus.
So let's get started, but first, let's pray together.
(01:05):
Heavenly Father, thank you forbeing big enough to handle our
questions.
Thank you that you meet us inthe mess, not just in our
moments of clarity.
As we explore doubt today, giveus hearts that are open minds
that are hungry for truth, and aspirit that's tender toward
your voice.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Doubt it's not exactly the wordwe expect to hear in a church
service or a Bible study.
(01:26):
In fact, in many Christiancircles, just admitting that we
struggle with doubt can feellike confessing a secret sin.
It's the elephant in the pew,the thing we all wrestle with at
some point, but hardly anyonewants to talk about out loud.
And yet, if we open the pagesof Scripture, we find doubt
sitting in the middle of thestory more often than we think.
Let's start with a powerfulscene from the Gospel of Mark.
(01:48):
In Mark, chapter 9, verse 24, adesperate father brings his
afflicted son to Jesus.
With raw honesty he pleads, Ibelieve, help my unbelief.
That moment, so simple and soprofound, captures the tension
so many of us feel.
We believe, yes, but there'salso a tug of uncertainty, a
part of us that hesitates,questions, even fears.
And Jesus doesn't rebuke theman, he doesn't say come back
(02:09):
when you've got your faith allsorted out.
No, jesus heals his son.
He responds with compassion andpower.
That interaction tells ussomething significant.
Jesus meets us in the middle ofour belief and our unbelief,
that sacred in-between place.
It's not off limits.
In fact, it might just be wheretransformation happens.
To move forward, we have toclarify something Doubt is not
(02:29):
the same as unbelief.
They're close cousins, maybeeven siblings, but they're not
identical twins.
Unbelief is a willful rejectionof God's truth.
It's the decision to say I hearwhat you say, god, but I choose
not to trust you.
That's what we see in thehardened hearts of the Pharisees
who witnessed Jesus' miraclesand still plotted to destroy him
.
Doubt, on the other hand, isthe space where faith is still
(02:50):
working things out.
It's what happens when our headand our heart aren't quite on
the same page yet, when we'retrying to believe but we have
questions and the good newsScripture gives us plenty of
room to be in that space.
Take the book of Psalms.
It's full of cries like howlong, o Lord, and why have you
forsaken me?
That's not sanitizedspirituality.
That's faith in process.
David, who penned many of thosePsalms, was called a man after
(03:13):
God's own heart, not because henever doubted, but because even
in his doubt he turned towardGod.
Timothy Keller, in the Reasonfor God, explains that doubt,
when approached sincerely, canserve as a refining fire for
faith.
It burns away superficialbeliefs and forces us to ask
what do I really believe and why?
Keller writes that faithwithout some level of
questioning is more likesuperstition than conviction.
(03:34):
Real faith grows stronger whenit's been tested.
And, let's be real, some of uswere handed a version of
Christianity that didn't prepareus for this.
Maybe we grew up hearing theBible says it, I believe it, and
that settles it.
There's a simplicity and beautyin childlike faith.
But when we face complex lifeissues, when the doctor's report
is bad, when the job fallsthrough, when we lose someone we
(03:54):
love, suddenly just believeharder doesn't feel like enough.
That's when doubt enters thescene.
But instead of seeing doubt asan enemy, what if we saw it as
an opportunity?
Cs Lewis, one of the mostinfluential Christian writers of
the 20th century, didn't cometo faith through blind
acceptance.
He came by way of rigorousquestioning In Mere Christianity
(04:15):
.
He explains that his journey tobelief was filled with
intellectual and emotionalstruggle.
He describes his conversion asbeing dragged, kicking and
screaming into the kingdom.
That doesn't sound like thepolished testimony we hear on
stage, but it's honest andrelatable.
Lewis later wrote that faith isthe art of holding on to things
your reason has once accepted,in spite of your changing moods.
That quote has anchored manybelievers who find themselves
(04:36):
swaying between belief anduncertainty.
Faith, in other words, is notthe absence of doubt, it's the
choice to trust in the presenceof doubt.
We can't have a conversationabout doubt without talking
about Thomas.
You know, doubting Thomas,that's the label he's been stuck
with for centuries.
But if we look at his storyclosely in John chapter 20, we
see something profound.
After the resurrection, theother disciples tell Thomas
(04:58):
we've seen the Lord.
But Thomas replies unless I seethe nail marks in his hands and
put my finger where the nailswere, I will not believe.
It's a strong statement, butnot without reason.
Thomas wanted to believe.
He just needed proof.
And what does Jesus do?
He shows up.
He meets Thomas right in hisplace of doubt.
He doesn't shame him or excludehim from the group.
Instead he says Put your fingerhere, see my hands, stop
(05:21):
doubting and believe.
Thomas responds with adeclaration of worship.
That's not just a redemptionstory.
It's a model for how Jesushandles our uncertainty.
He doesn't dismiss us.
He invites us closer.
So if scripture gives uspermission to doubt, and if even
the heroes of our faith David,job, thomas and more experienced
it, why do we treat it like aspiritual disease?
(05:43):
Part of the reason is fear.
We fear what we don'tunderstand.
We fear where our questionsmight lead.
What if asking one questionopens a floodgate of uncertainty
?
What if it shakes thefoundation of what we've always
believed?
But here's the truth If ourfaith can't withstand honest
questions it's not as sturdy aswe thought and if we truly
believe that God is real, thatHis word is true and that Jesus
(06:05):
is who he says he is, thenChristianity should be the most
intellectually and spirituallyresilient worldview on the
planet.
Doubt doesn't have to be adetour.
It can be a catalyst.
So what do you do when you'rein that foggy middle ground,
believing but struggling?
Here are a few steps that cananchor you.
Acknowledge it.
Pretending the doubt isn'tthere doesn't make it go away.
Name it.
Be honest in prayer, like thepsalmist were.
(06:26):
Remember God already knowswhat's in your heart.
Talk to trusted believers.
Find someone who won't shameyou for asking hard questions,
whether it's a mentor, a pastoror a small group member.
Talking through your doubt canbring clarity.
Dig into scripture not just thefeel-good verses but the whole
counsel of God.
Ask what does the Bibleactually say about this topic?
Use a study Bible or commentaryto guide you deeper.
(06:49):
Read widely Books like theReason for God by Tim Keller,
mere Christianity by CS Lewisand even writings by John Calvin
or Charles Spurgeon can giverich insight from those who've
walked the same road.
Pray for wisdom.
James 1, verse 5 says If any ofyou lacks wisdom, let him ask
God, who gives generously to allwithout reproach, and it will
(07:12):
be given him.
Doubt can be the beginning of adeeper wisdom if we bring it to
the Lord.
There's something refreshinglyraw about the Bible.
It doesn't try to gloss overthe gritty parts of the human
experience.
It's not afraid to show uspeople in the middle of their
deepest struggles, especiallywhen those struggles involve
questioning God.
If doubt were a sin, you'dexpect the Bible to keep it
hidden, tucked away behind theglowing stories of faith and
miracles.
But it doesn't.
Instead, it brings thosestories of wrestling right into
(07:34):
the light.
One of the most powerfulexamples of this comes from a
man named Job.
His story opens with tragedy,unimaginable loss His wealth,
his children, his health, allgone in a matter of moments.
If anyone had reason to doubtthe goodness or justice of God,
it was Job, and he doesn't staysilent about it.
In Job, chapter 3, verse 11, hecries out why did I not perish
(07:54):
at birth and die as I came fromthe womb?
That's not just a bad day,that's despair.
Speaking, that's a mangrappling with God in the depths
of suffering.
And what's so striking is thatGod doesn't rebuke Job for
asking those questions.
In fact, by the end of the book, god affirms Job's honesty.
Even when Job's friends try todefend God with overly
simplistic answers, god says inJob, chapter 42, verse 7, you
(08:17):
have not spoken of me.
What is right, as my servant,job has Let that sink in.
The man who yelled, cried andquestioned is the one God says
got it right.
Because Job was honest.
He brought his full hurtingheart to God rather than
pretending everything was okay.
This brings us to a criticalinsight.
Doubt is not the opposite offaith.
Apathy is when you doubt.
You're still engaging, you'restill in the ring, wrestling it
(08:38):
out.
That's what we see with Job.
He never stopped talking to God, even when he was angry or
confused.
He didn't turn away and God methim there.
The same is true in the storyof Jacob, who literally wrestles
with God in Genesis, chapter 32.
The narrative describes amysterious figure, often
interpreted as a manifestationof God or an angel, who wrestles
with Jacob all night.
Jacob refuses to let go untilhe receives a blessing, and by
(09:02):
morning not only does he getthat blessing, but he's given a
new name Israel, which means hestruggles with God.
That's not just a name, it's alegacy.
The entire nation of Israel isnamed after a man who physically
and spiritually wrestled withthe Almighty.
That's a divine endorsement ofhonest struggle.
So if you've ever felt likewrestling with God disqualifies
you from faith, jacob's storysays otherwise.
(09:24):
Sometimes the ones who wrestlethe hardest receive the greatest
clarity and calling.
Another towering figure in theBible who wrestled deeply with
doubt is David.
We know David as the shepherdboy who became king, the man who
killed Goliath and the poetbehind most of the Psalms.
He's described in 1 Samuel,chapter 13, verse 14, as a man
after God's own heart.
But have you ever stopped andread some of the things David
(09:46):
wrote In Psalm 13, verses 1 and2, david pleads how long, o Lord
, will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide yourface from me?
How long must I wrestle with mythoughts and, day after day,
have sorrow in my heart?
That doesn't sound like someonecruising on spiritual autopilot
.
That sounds like a man whofeels abandoned, confused and
deeply alone.
And yet in that same psalm,just a few verses later, he
(10:09):
declares in verse 5, but I trustin your unfailing love.
My heart rejoices in yoursalvation.
Do you see the movement there,from despair to trust, from
doubt to worship?
That's not spiritual whiplash,it's honest, messy faith.
David never denies his doubts,he brings them.
Now let's turn to Jeremiah.
Often called the weeping prophet, he had one of the hardest jobs
(10:29):
in scripture deliveringmessages of judgment and warning
to a rebellious people whodidn't want to hear it, and it
broke him.
In Jeremiah, chapter 20, verse7, he says to God you deceived
me, lord, and I was deceived.
You overpowered me andprevailed I am.
That's not the voice of someonewho's coasting through
obedience.
That's a prophet questioningthe very God who called him.
(10:51):
And yet God doesn't zapJeremiah for irreverence.
He lets him speak, he lets himcry, he lets him question.
That's not weak faith.
It's raw, resilient faith, afaith that doesn't need to put
on a happy face to be acceptedby God.
Even Jesus himself had a momentof soul-deep wrestling.
In Matthew, chapter 26, verse39,.
As he prayed in the garden thenight before his crucifixion, he
(11:12):
cried out my Father, if it ispossible, let this cup pass from
me.
Nevertheless, not as I will,but as you will.
Jesus wasn't doubting God'sexistence or character, but he
was experiencing the full weightof what was to come, and it
pressed him to the point ofsweating blood, as we're told in
Luke, chapter 22, verse 44.
That moment tells us that eventhe Son of God experienced
internal conflict.
(11:33):
Even he had a moment of askingIs there another way?
And that moment is recorded,not to weaken our view of Christ
, but to show us his completehumanity.
It assures us that Jesusunderstands our moments of doubt
, not just intellectually butexperientially, as the writer of
Hebrews puts it in Hebrews 4,verse 15, for we do not have a
high priest who is unable tosympathize with our weaknesses,
(11:54):
but one who, in every respect,has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin.
That means your questions don'tscare him.
Your wrestling doesn't repulsehim, he gets it, he's been there
.
So here's a key takeaway Honestdoubt can lead to a more honest
, more mature faith.
Think of it like this when abuilder wants to test the
strength of a structure, theydon't pat it gently, they apply
pressure, they stress it, theyput weight on it.
(12:16):
The goal isn't to break it, butto make sure it holds.
That's what doubt does to ourfaith.
It applies pressure, it exposesweaknesses and, when handled
rightly, it leads us toreinforce the foundation, to ask
better questions, to go deeperin scripture, to find clarity
and conviction in God's truth.
That's why Paul writes in 2Corinthians 13, verse 5, examine
(12:38):
yourselves to see whether youare in the faith.
Test yourselves.
That kind of self-examinationisn't a sin, it's a command and
it's a healthy part of spiritualgrowth.
Unfortunately, not every churchculture creates room for that
kind of examination.
Some communities, whetherintentionally or not, treat
doubt like a virus that must beeradicated immediately.
People with questions arehushed, sidelined or given quick
(12:59):
, shallow answers.
But when we do that, we riskcreating an atmosphere of
performance instead oftransformation.
The early church didn't operatelike that.
In Acts, chapter 15, we see theApostles wrestling with a huge
theological question Do Gentilebelievers need to follow Jewish
law.
That's not a small issue, andinstead of sweeping it under the
rug, the leaders gathered inJerusalem to debate, study
(13:20):
Scripture and seek the HolySpirit's guidance.
That process was messy, but itwas holy.
The takeaway a healthy churchisn't afraid of tough questions.
It leans into them with graceand truth.
There's something else we can'tmiss here Doubt is easier to
navigate when we're not alone.
In Galatians, chapter 6, verse 2, paul urges the church to bear
one another's burdens and sofulfill the law of Christ.
(13:41):
Doubt is one of those burdens.
It can feel crushing whencarried in isolation, but
lighter when shared in community.
That's why it's so important tohave spiritual friendships.
People who don't flinch whenyou say I'm not sure what I
believe about this or this partof the Bible confuses me.
Friends who don't rush to fixyou, but who sit with you,
listen, pray and point you backto truth.
That kind of community can makeall the difference.
(14:03):
Let's be honest for a minute.
Some of the deepest spiritualwounds don't come from atheists
or skeptics.
They come from within the wallsof the church.
And when that happens, thefallout can be intense.
It's one thing to wrestle withtheology or cultural challenges
to your faith, but it'ssomething else entirely to feel
betrayed by the very people whowere supposed to walk with you
in grace, truth and love.
So what do we do when our doubtis less about doctrine and more
(14:25):
about damage?
It's a question more and morebelievers are asking, and not
just those on the fringes.
Many who have been deeplyembedded in church life are
starting to wrestle with doubtafter experiencing spiritual
abuse, manipulation, hypocrisyor deep disappointment.
These aren't small offenses.
They shake our confidence notonly in church leadership, but
sometimes in the very God thoseleaders represent.
(14:45):
Here's something we need toaffirm right up front Doubt that
arises from pain is valid.
It doesn't mean you're weak.
It means you're human.
If someone you trusted misusedtheir power, misrepresented
scripture or failed to practicewhat they preached, and that
experience left you questioningwhat's real and who God truly is
, you're not alone and you'renot wrong for feeling
disoriented.
One of the greatest tragediesin Christian culture is when
(15:10):
hurting believers are toldthings like you just need to
forgive and move on or don't letyour feelings cloud your faith.
But those responses don't heal,they dismiss.
And when pain gets dismissed,doubt often festers in the
shadows.
Let's look at scripture to seewhat God says, not just about
faith and doubt, but aboutinjustice and woundedness.
Jesus had strong words forreligious leaders who misused
their influence.
In Matthew, chapter 23, heunleashes a series of scathing
(15:32):
rebukes against the Pharisees.
Verse 27 says Woe to you,scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites, for you are likewhitewashed tombs which
outwardly appear beautiful butwithin are full of dead people's
bones and all uncleanness.
That's not just colorfullanguage, that's the Son of God
standing up against spiritualdeception and hypocrisy.
He wasn't indifferent toreligious leaders abusing power.
(15:53):
He confronted it head on.
So if you've been hurt byleaders who wore a mask of
righteousness but operated withcontrol, manipulation or even
cruelty behind the scenes, jesussees that and he cares.
The gospel isn't on the side ofthe oppressor.
It's on the side of the broken,the wounded and the seeking.
We sometimes romanticize theearly church as a perfect
community of harmony and love,and while it was certainly
(16:14):
spirit-filled and committed toChrist, it was also deeply human
.
In Galatians, chapter 2, weread about a conflict between
the apostle Paul and the apostlePeter.
Paul calls Peter out publiclybecause Peter was behaving
hypocritically, eating withGentiles in private but
distancing himself from them inpublic when other Jews were
around.
Paul writes in verse 14, I sawthat their conduct was not in
(16:35):
step with the truth of thegospel.
That's a huge deal.
Even Peter the Rock, on whomChrist said he would build his
church, had moments of moralfailure and inconsistency, and
scripture doesn't hide it.
Instead, it documents it toshow that even leaders need
correction and that the gospelis bigger than any one person's
behavior.
If you've experienced churchhurt, please know this.
You are not alone in historyand you are not forgotten by God
(16:57):
.
The word disillusionmentliterally means the removal of
an illusion, and that canactually be a painful gift.
Many of us enter the churchexpecting it to be a refuge from
the messiness of life, and inmany ways it should be.
But when we realize that thechurch is filled with broken
people who sometimes wound eachother, we face a crossroads.
We can let our disillusionmentdrive us away from faith
entirely, or we can let it stripaway false expectations and
(17:20):
lead us toward a more real,resilient faith.
Let's be clear that doesn'tmean excusing abusive behavior.
There's no spiritual merit inpretending something wasn't
wrong but it does meanrecognizing that God is not
synonymous with the people whomisrepresent him.
Just because someone acted inGod's name doesn't mean they
reflected God's heart, and whenthat distinction becomes clear,
it can actually be a turningpoint in your journey, not
(17:42):
toward cynicism but towardclarity.
So what do you do when you're inthat place, when you're unsure
whether you can trust churchagain, or even whether you want
to?
Here are a few gentle, honeststeps forward.
Acknowledge the pain.
Denial doesn't protect faith,it poisons it.
If you've been hurt, don't tryto downplay it.
Bring it into the light,whether that means talking to a
counselor, a trusted friend orwriting it out in a journal.
(18:04):
Just get it out of the shadows.
Separate God from people.
People are made in God's image,but they are not God.
If someone failed you, lied toyou or manipulated you, that
reflects their brokenness, notGod's character.
Go back to scripture and ask whois Jesus really.
Let him reintroduce himself toyou.
Give yourself time.
(18:24):
Healing doesn't happenovernight.
You don't have to rush backinto church attendance or
ministry involvement.
Take time to process, time torebuild and, yes, time to doubt.
Wrestle and be honest.
Seek healthy spiritualcommunity.
Not every church is the same.
While some may have beenunhealthy or even toxic, there
are others led by humble,spirit-led people who genuinely
want to reflect Jesus.
Finding that kind of communitymight take effort, but it's
(18:45):
worth it.
Invite God into the pain.
This one is key.
Don't just ask God to removethe pain.
Invite Him to sit with you init.
Let Him speak to you throughScripture, through stillness,
through the gentle nudging ofHis Spirit.
He doesn't just fix our wounds,he walks with us through them.
One of the most comfortingimages in all of Scripture is
found in Psalm 23.
In verse 4, david writes that'sthe promise, not that we'll
(19:12):
never walk through darkness, butthat we will not walk it alone.
Jesus describes himself in John,chapter 10, verse 11, as the
good shepherd who lays down hislife for the sheep.
That's who he is.
He's not distant from your hurt.
He's not ashamed of yourquestions.
He's not impatient with yourgrief.
He lays not ashamed of yourquestions.
He's not impatient with yourgrief.
He lays Himself down for you.
If you've been disillusioned bychurch, let Jesus be your
(19:33):
shepherd.
Let Him lead you beside stillwaters.
Let Him restore your soul.
Healing from church hurt is nota linear journey.
Some days you might feel hope,other days anger and still
others confusion.
That's okay.
Restoration is not aboutreturning to where you were
before.
It's about moving forward withnew wisdom and a more grounded
faith.
Sometimes the most healingthing you can do is to read
scripture, not as a to-do listbut as a love letter.
(19:56):
Spend time in the gospels, watchhow Jesus treated the outcasts,
the doubters, the brokenhearted.
That's your savior, that's yourmodel of faith.
And remember restoration is notabout pretending the hurt
didn't happen.
It's about believing that Godis still good even when people
are not.
In Isaiah, chapter 42, verse 3,we're told a bruised reed he
will not break and a faintlyburning wick he will not quench.
(20:16):
God is gentle with the wounded.
He doesn't crush the fragile,he restores them.
So if your flame of faith feelslike it's barely flickering,
know this he's not here to blowit out, he's here to fan it back
to life.
Well, friends, that's wherewe'll pause, for today We've
walked through the raw realityof doubt, how it shows up in
scripture, how it tests ourfaith and how it can emerge from
the pain of life or even thechurch.
(20:38):
Next time, in part 2, we'llpick up with the intellectual
side of doubt, those head versusheart moments, and explore how
mystery, maturity and hope alllead us back to Jesus.
I hope you'll join me then, fornow, if this stirred something
in you.
Don't hesitate to reach out.
Visit us atwwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg.
Email me at jm atthecrossroadscollectiveorg.
We'd love to pray with you orjust listen.
(21:00):
This is Javier signing off fromthe Compass Chronicles.
Keep the compass steady, keepwalking and I'll see you for
part two.
God bless you and take care.
(21:38):
Thank you.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com