For The Christian Girl Who Is Struggling With Doubt In Her Faith
Maybe you’ve been a Christian since you were born or maybe you became a Christian recently. Whenever you became a Christian, I feel like there are times for every Christian to struggle and wrestle with doubts, even doubts whether what we believe is true or not.
There are actually people in the Bible who doubted Jesus. Jesus and Thomas comes to mind in John 20:24-29. Thomas was struggling to believe that Jesus had resurrected (and this was days after the resurrection, when Jesus appeared to the disciples for the first time).
When Jesus finally gave “Doubting Thomas” proof, Thomas believed. And Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29, ESV).
I don’t use that verse to scare you out of your doubt. If you’re wrestling with doubt, that’s fine. That’s more than fine—that’s okay and normal. Honestly, if it makes you feel any better, wrestling with doubt can help strengthen your faith because it allows you to ask the hard questions (and sometimes easy questions that we all need to be reminded of). If you’re wrestling with doubt, read on to encourage you with this doubt. I hope and pray that you press on into your doubt and ask the hard (and sometimes easy) questions.
Focus on growth and continue learning.
Welcome those doubts in. Asking those questions means you are learning and growing in your faith. I love this idea of a “growth mindset,” coined in psychology terms. This article from the Harvard Business Review, written by Carol Dweck who coined the term, writes this of growth mindsets: “Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset.” Replace “talents” with skills and things that you learn. Opposite to a fixed mindset, where people with this mindset believe that they can’t learn anything else, or stay stagnant. Essentially, always keep growing. We’re always meant to keep growing and learning. If we continue to just stay where we’re at and never press into our questions, then we stay stuck. Ask questions. Write down questions in your Bible or devotional where you don’t understand something—or honestly, when you don’t agree with something. Write down the questions so you can ask someone or look them up later.
You’re not alone in your doubt.
There are other Christians, right now, who are wrestling with doubts and “trying to figure out what you believe in.” Don’t be ashamed of your doubts; bring them to God, but also talk about them with people you know and trust.
Cry out to God with your doubts.
Don’t be afraid to bring your questions to God. Even in those doubts of wondering if God will answer you or even hear you (He does), still cry out to Him. Get it off your chest. There’s something good about getting it off your chest and bringing those prayers and worries and doubts to God?
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” —Psalm 57:2 (ESV)
Don’t be afraid of your doubts.
This can mean internally and externally. With yourself, don’t be afraid or ashamed of your doubts. These questions are probably important and can strengthen your faith. But also, don’t be afraid or ashamed to bring your questions to another person. When you’re struggling to know what you believe or have trouble figuring out what a particular verse or passage means, bring it to a trusted friend or your pastor. Your pastor is there to answer your questions. And if you’re on your own? I encourage you to get in Christian community, surrounded by other believers (Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 11:14, Romans 12:4-5).
Get a study Bible.
A study Bible will not only help you understand what the passage and verses actually mean, but also help you understand the context of when the text was written. It will help you understand the historical background and cultural context of when the text was written, i.e. what and how the Roman government operated during Jesus’s ministry and why the Pharisees were so adamant about the Jewish law while Jesus was teaching.
Try Gotquestions.org.
This is a free resource online where you can plug in any question you have about faith and Christianity and get multiple resources and studies to answer your question. It will give you a basic and simple answer, but follow it up with resources, sources, and other things you need to clarify the answer. It will also give Scripture to back up the answer.
Get in community.
I mentioned it above, but I want to emphasize that we are not meant to do this faith walk alone. When I first rededicated my life to God, I wanted to do it alone. I love doing things alone, as a naturally independent person. However, as Christians, we are meant to do life together and learn more about God alone. Go back and visit those Bible verses (Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 11:14, Romans 12:4-5). We are meant for community. Talk to people about your doubts. Ask for prayer as you navigate and find answers to these questions. Other people may have these questions or have had these questions and can give you clarification. You’re not alone with these doubts.
I wish I could give a simple solution to you struggling with doubts in your faith. I’m walking through doubts myself. I wish I can turn this blog post into a Q+A portion and go through the questions that I have in my own faith. For you, walking with doubts in your faith and struggling to figure out what you believe in, I encourage you to press on in these doubts and ask the important questions, whether that’s to yourself or a trusted friend or pastor. You got this.