
Dealing with Doubt
• Jeff Hughes • Series: Hard Questions
Jude 1:17-23 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 1. The real danger of the Christian faith is not doubt, it’s apathy. When we stop caring, when we stop seeking, when we stop wrestling – that’s when our faith is truly at risk. Mark 9:24 "…I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When you’re dealing with doubt, it’s not a time to panic – It’s a time to process. 2. God meets us in our doubt. John 20:24-25 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20:26-29 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Matthew 11:5 “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Jesus is not afraid of your questions, and He will meet you IN your doubt. 3. Doubt can lead to a deeper faith. How do we deal with doubt? We remember: 1. The real danger of the Christian faith is not doubt, it’s apathy. 2. God meets us in our doubt. 3. Doubt can lead to a deeper faith.