Dealing With Doubt

ILLUSTRATION: Tell a story about a time when you (or someone you know) began to ask big questions about God. Emphasize how doubt developed.

•Doubt often happens when our expectations don't match our experiences.

•We expected our teenage years to be the best years of our lives, but every day breeds a new struggle.

•We expected God to heal our grandfather, but now we are sending ou funeral announcements.

•We expected God to make His plan crystal clear, but we are feeling lost and directionless.  

•Here is a message I wish someone shared with me while I was wrestling with my faith: Doubt is natural. Doubt is normal. Doubt is inevitable.

•But what do we do when we face uncertainty, questions, and doubt?

•Let's examine the simple advice of Jude

SETTING UP THE SERIES

• It's easy to hide your true self from your friends, but it's much harder to hide from your family. Your siblings know your shortcomings and secrets better than anyone else.

• When we are reading Jude, we are reading the words of Jesus' brother. This should speak volumes about the legitimacy of Christ, as his own brother fought for his message. Some of your siblings wouldn't even write you a job reference.

• Jude, the brother of Jesus, tirelessly fought to prove and proclaim the legitimacy of his brother’s ministry, life, and resurrection.

• He dealt with rejection and persecution as he taught. He also dealt with a lot of doubt. People accused Jesus’ brother of being a liar and a lunatic.

• It’s possible that even his own family members struggled with (or outright rejected) the truth about Jesus.

• However, Jude isn’t harsh to them. He’s empathetic. He doesn’t tell us to mock doubters. He calls us to show them mercy.

• Jude says, "be merciful to those who doubt" (22).

• This short verse packs a strong punch.

• What is our response to doubt?

• It's not arguments, anger, or aggravation. Not at all!

• We are called to mercy. It's easy to think God would be harsh on those who doubt, but that's far from the truth. Jude encourages us to be merciful when we encounter doubt.

• The same is true for our Father. God's heart harbors mercy, not hostility, towards doubters.

• We see this throughout scripture. The Bible is packed full of godly people who wrestled with doubt.

• John the Baptist had doubts. After being locked in prison for teaching others about Jesus, He sent people to investigate the legitimacy of Jesus. "Are you really the Messiah?" they asked. Jesus didn't lash out at them; He lovingly reassured them.

• Jesus' dear friend Thomas is likely the best-known doubter in scripture. After hearing rumors of resurrection, he announced, "I won't believe it until I place my hands in the scars on his arms!" Jesus came to him, allowed him to feel the wounds on his hands, and embraced him with open arms. There was no judgement, just love.

• Abraham, the father of the Jewish faith, wrestled with debilitating doubt for most of his life. He and his wife were promised many children and descendants, but their struggles with infertility made this hard to believe. Sarah, Abraham's wife, was nearly ninety years old. The mere thought of having a child made her burst out laughing, but God had the last laugh. He blessed their family with a beautiful, healthy baby named Isaac. (His name even means laughter.)

• Doubt didn't disqualify them from God's promises.

• Extend mercy to people who doubt.

• Especially when that person is you.

• You aren't alone in your questioning.

• Your doubts will never disqualify you. Your doubts will never prevent God from pursuing you.

• Your doubts will never stop God from loving you.

• Your doubts aren't evil, they're natural.

• It's human to face doubt, but it's not healthy to live in doubt.

• When big questions keep you up at night, address them head-on.

• Let questions lead you to seek answers.

• Let confusion invite you into a bigger conversation.

• Let frustration push you towards faith.

• Doubt is natural, but it's also deceitful.

• When you encounter hard questions, be sure to examine them. Your doubt will inevitably make way for deeper belief.

• Throughout this series, we are going to encourage you with one simple phrase: Doubt your doubts.

• That doesn’t diminish your doubts. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask hard questions. That certainly doesn’t mean that doubt it bad.

• It’s just that we must learn to develop through our doubt, because that’s what will bring us to a stronger faith.

• Our faith isn’t just Bible stories and sermons, it’s something we get to experience.

• There is a huge difference between knowing something and experiencing it.

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about a time when an experience led you to a deeper understanding of something. (Examples: fatherhood, marriage, or ministry.)

• Let’s examine the life of someone who got to experience something He couldn't explain.

• Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, struggled to believe in something he couldn't see.

• Everything changed when Jesus showed up.

• This exchange in John chapter twenty takes place in the middle of sheer madness.

• A killer named Barabas was released to the streets, so people were frightened for their lives.

• Jesus was publicly beaten, murdered, and buried.

• His public execution triggered earthquakes and plague-like darkness.

• After that, his closest friends all scattered.

• Can you blame them?

• They were followers of a convicted criminal so they each had a target on their backs.

• Fear led them to hide in terror.

• After a grim experience on Friday, they couldn't imagine the glory of Sunday.

• Jesus wasn't just speaking metaphorically when He talked about resurrection. His eyes opened wide, his deflated lungs filled with air, and life entered His body as Jesus broke out of that borrowed grave!

• Can you imagine the disciples' shock and celebration when Jesus appeared before them on the first Easter (John 20:19).

• Filled with jubilation, they took turns hugging their rabbi.

• They could feel the scars on His arms and see the bruises on his face.

• Everyone got to embrace and celebrate with Jesus, except for one (John 20:24-25).

• Thomas was probably out fishing, applying to jobs, or waiting in line at the market.

• Thus, He missed Christ's holy homecoming.

• When Jesus was executed, it undoubtedly shook Thomas to his core.

• Jesus, his friend and mentor, was beaten to death while the public applauded. He couldn't look away as Jesus was nailed to a cross.

• His stomach turned as soldiers stabbed a spear through His ribs.

• Thomas, the doubting disciple, was convinced that Jesus was going to change the world. Then he watched Him die a criminal's death. Thomas gave up everything to follow Jesus, and his entire world was falling apart after the tragic events at Golgotha.

• Suddenly Thomas was told, "Jesus is alive! Everything He said was true!" But Thomas had his doubts, saying, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands" (20:27).

• We often give Thomas a bad rap, but I can relate to him.

• It's hard to believe something so marvelous during the worst weekend of your life.

• Everything changed when Jesus walked through the door.

• Let the strangeness of this situation sink in.

• A murdered man stood in Thomas' house.

• Sensing skepticism, Jesus calmly replied, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

— Transition —

• How did Jesus respond to Thomas?

• He didn't lash out at him. He didn't teach him a lesson.

• Nope, Jesus just loved him. Christ gave Thomas exactly what he was asking for -- evidence.

• Thomas ran his hands across cuts, scabs, and bruises. His touch turned into an embrace when reality hit him. "Stop doubting and believe," Jesus repeated.

• It's important to see that Jesus said this after giving Thomas the evidence he sought.

• Jesus is bigger than your doubts.

• He's not afraid of your questions or intimidated by your confusion.

• Instead, Jesus joins us in our investigation. It's pivotal that we let our doubts lead to development.

• How do we develop through our doubts? Here are three pieces of advice.

ONE: Don't doubt in silence.

• It's impossible to get answers without asking questions.

• Thomas let his questions be known. He started an open conversation about his doubts, which ultimately put him in the perfect place to grow in his faith.

• When you doubt in silence, you struggle.

• When you doubt in the open, you develop.

• Tonight, it’s time to commit to sharing our doubts. Even if they’re complicated, messy, or confusing. That’s the nature of doubt.

• Where should you start? This brings us to point two.

TWO: Bring your doubts to your friends.

• We get a glimpse of Thomas sharing his questions with his close friends.

• Together, they worked towards closure.

• Doubt is completely natural, but it's crucial that your doubts start discussions.

• Ultimately, those honest discussions will fuel your faith. If your mind is filled with questions, please be open and honest about your doubts.

• Speak to a trusted friend or mentor.

• Let your doubt spark a discussion.

• Growth is on the other side of these conversations.

• Sure, talking to me, leaders, and friends is important. You bet. There is one last crucial conversation though.

THREE: Bring your doubts to Jesus.

• We can learn a lot from Thomas.

• He told Jesus directly that he was struggling to make sense of it all.

• Jesus was ready to help him see and experience the truth.

• His doubts brought him closer to the divine.

• The same is true for you.

• When you have questions, bring them to Jesus. Pray that God increases your faith.

• Landing:

God won't always give you a crystal clear answer.

• However, He will always help you contextualize your questions.

• Your goal isn't to know all the answers.

• It's to grow closer to the One who does.

TALK IT OUT 

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Q1: Why is it important to address your questions and doubts?

Q2: How do you think your friends or family would respond if you told them you were questioning an aspect of your faith?

Q3: If someone shares doubts with you about their faith, how can you show them mercy like we’re taught to do in Jude?

Q4: What are some good sources to help you discover the truth about your questions?

Q5: What can you do to address your questions proactively this week?

READING PLAN

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Philippians 4:4-7

Proverbs 3:5-8

Psalm 46:1-6

Psalm 46:7-10 2

Timothy 1:7

Pslam 56:1-4

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.