Your Doubts Show You’re Human

By Rick Warren

Have you ever had a doubt creep into your mind, and you start thinking, “Oh, no! Maybe God won’t love me if I’ve got these doubts?”  You may even have some legitimate, honest questions, yet you begin to wonder if these doubts may mean you’re not even a Christian.

You’re not alone in these doubts. The Bible is full of famous doubters.

John the Baptist had doubts. One time he was in prison and wracked with doubt because of his circumstances. So he sent people to Jesus to ask, “Was I wrong? Did I make a mistake? Are you really the Messiah?”  The message Jesus sent back was one of reassurance. He didn’t condemn or criticize John. In fact, right after John expressed his doubts, Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest man who had ever been born!

Remember the story of Thomas the disciple? After the Resurrection, he wasn’t there when Jesus appeared to the other 11 disciples. He told them, “I won’t believe it till I see it for myself.”  When Jesus appeared again, he didn’t scold Thomas. He met his doubts with assurance and opened his arms to receive him as someone he deeply loved.

Then there’s Abraham and Sarah. They had doubts when God told them that Sarah, who was 90 years old, would soon give birth to a son. Sarah so doubted God’s promise that she burst out laughing. Yet God kept his promise and blessed the whole world through their son Isaac—whose name, incidentally, means laughter. God took Sarah’s doubts in stride.

Your doubts will never stop God from loving you. Your doubts won’t stop God from giving you his grace and direction.

Your doubts don’t make you an unbeliever. They make you human. In fact, the strongest faith comes out of struggles with your doubt.

Thank God for his faithfulness to you, even when you doubt. Then, trust his promises to keep working out his good purpose for you.