Doubt is a common experience for many Christians. Whether it’s doubt about God’s existence, His goodness, His promises, or His plan, doubt can creep into our minds and hearts and cause us to question our faith. Doubt can make us feel guilty, ashamed, or isolated from God and other believers. But doubt does not have to be the end of our faith journey. In fact, doubt can be an opportunity to grow deeper in our relationship with God and to strengthen our trust in Him. Here are five practical tips on how to deal with doubts as a Christian.
1. Admit your doubts to God and yourself.
The first step to dealing with doubt is to acknowledge it. Don’t try to hide it, deny it, or suppress it. Instead, be honest with yourself and with God about what you are struggling with. God knows your thoughts and feelings anyway, so there is no point in pretending that everything is fine. He is not afraid of your questions or your emotions. He loves you unconditionally and wants you to come to Him with all your doubts.
Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Pouring out your heart before God means being open and vulnerable with Him about what you are going through. He is a refuge for you, a safe place where you can find comfort, peace, and grace.
2. Seek God’s truth in His Word.
The second step to dealing with doubt is to seek God’s truth in His Word. The Bible is the inspired, authoritative, and reliable revelation of God to us. It contains everything we need to know for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). It is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path (Psalm 119:105). It is the sword of the Spirit that can pierce through our doubts and expose the lies of the enemy (Ephesians 6:17).
When you are facing doubt, don’t rely on your own feelings, opinions, or experiences. Instead, turn to the Scriptures and let them guide you into the truth. Read them daily, meditate on them, memorize them, and apply them to your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your mind and heart as you study God’s Word. He will teach you all things and remind you of what Jesus has said (John 14:26).
3. Surround yourself with godly people.
The third step to dealing with doubt is to surround yourself with godly people. God has not called us to live in isolation but in community. He has given us the church, the body of Christ, where we can find support, encouragement, accountability, and fellowship. We need each other as we grow in our faith and face various challenges.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” When you are dealing with doubt, don’t withdraw from other believers. Instead, seek out those who can help you grow in your faith and spur you on to love and good works. Share your doubts with them and ask them to pray for you and counsel you from the Word of God. Listen to their testimonies of how God has worked in their lives and how He has helped them overcome their doubts.
4. Trust God’s character and promises.
The fourth step to dealing with doubt is to trust God’s character and promises. Doubt often arises when we focus on our circumstances rather than on God’s character. We look at the problems we face or the questions we have and we forget who God is and what He has done for us. We forget that He is good, faithful, powerful, wise, loving, sovereign, and holy.
But God has revealed His character and promises to us in His Word. He has shown us His love by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise again for our justification (Romans 5:8). He has shown us His faithfulness by keeping every promise He has ever made (Numbers 23:19). He has shown us His power by creating all things out of nothing and sustaining them by His word (Hebrews 11:3). He has shown us His wisdom by working all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). He has shown us His sovereignty by ruling over all things according to His will (Ephesians 1:11). He has shown us His holiness by calling us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
When you are dealing with doubt, don’t let your circumstances dictate your view of God. Instead, let God’s Word shape your view of your circumstances. Remind yourself of who God is and what He has promised you. Trust Him with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
5. Take action in obedience and faith.
The fifth step to dealing with doubt is to take action in obedience and faith. Doubt can paralyze us and prevent us from doing what God has called us to do. It can make us passive, fearful, and complacent. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). He has given us a spirit of faith, not of doubt.
James 2:26 says, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Faith is not just a mental assent to certain truths, but a living trust in God that results in action. Faith without works is dead, but faith with works is alive and powerful.
When you are dealing with doubt, don’t let it stop you from obeying God and serving Him. Instead, act on what you know to be true and right, even if you don’t feel like it. Do the next thing that God has put before you, whether it’s praying, reading the Bible, going to church, sharing the gospel, or loving your neighbor. As you do so, you will find that your faith grows stronger and your doubts grow weaker.
Conclusion
Doubt is not a sin, but a challenge that every Christian faces at some point in their life. It can be a tool that God uses to refine our faith and draw us closer to Him. But it can also be a trap that Satan uses to deceive us and destroy our faith. The way we deal with doubt will determine whether it leads us to growth or to ruin.
If you are dealing with doubt today, don’t despair or give up. Instead, follow these five practical tips:
- Admit your doubts to God and yourself.
- Seek God’s truth in His Word.
- Surround yourself with godly people.
- Trust God’s character and promises.
- Take action in obedience and faith.
As you do so, you will experience God’s grace and peace in your life. You will overcome your doubts and grow in your faith. You will glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
