Struggling with doubt? You’re in good company, alongside many others in Scripture. At times, though, we can feel a deep sense of angst when doubts arise about God, His goodness, His control, or even His existence. In this 5-Day devotional plan, we’ll give you some practical steps to help you conquer your doubt.
FamilyLife
Day 1
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 5:20
Practice Thankfulness
Every Sunday, my family pauses to do family devotions (or what one of my daughters called them when she was 4, “demotions”). We read through a kid’s Bible study, ask questions, pray, and sing worship songs. But my favorite part of family devotions is when we do the thankfulness jar.
All four of us get a slip of paper and a colored marker, and we write down the things we’re thankful for from the last week. We add our names and the date and then share them with each other. After we all have our turns, we fold the paper in half and slip it into a big mason jar with a slit on the lid. It’s been a great way to dwell on God’s love and work in our lives, and it’s fun to see the thankfulness we share build up in that jar over time.
The antidote to many of the doubts that can darken my life has been an intentional movement toward dwelling on all I’m thankful for. In a real sense, thankfulness renews your mind and refreshes your heart in ways that make it nearly impossible to ruminate on doubt. Paul David Tripp puts this astutely in his book, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense:
“It is exactly at the point when you are tempted to think that you’re not blessed that counting your blessings is the most important. A thankful heart is the best defense against a doubting heart. . . . As a defense against doubt, it is really important to give yourself to quiet moments when you look at the trail behind you and what is now around you for evidences that God is good and worthy of your trust.”
Believe it or not, doubt is a normal thing in the life of a Christian. Just like Israel, we are incredibly forgetful of the miraculous ways God has worked in our lives. We can always bring our doubts to God and trust He’s big enough to handle them … because He is! So when you doubt (not if, but when), move toward God, not away from Him. You’ll find He’s ready to receive you with open arms.
In all likelihood, there are multiple examples of God’s provision, presence, and care you could probably recall if you took the time to think about them. And after you remember, rejoice. Praise God for how He’s worked, and watch your focus shift from dark doubt to bright thankfulness.
Day 2
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 18:1,
Galatians 6:2
Get With the Right People
There was a time when I was really low and questioning everything about God … but my friends Brian and Gabe really rescued me from that dark season. They didn’t scold or belittle how I was feeling; instead, they graciously helped me see all the amazing ways God was working in my life. I needed their comforting friendship in that time, because, without them, I would’ve been stranded and lost in my doubts.
It’s always important to be reminded that you cannot battle your doubts as an isolated island, at least not with any sustained amount of success. Despite what our individualistic culture may push, Christianity isn’t a solo thing. This is why it’s vital to plug in with a body of believers in a local church and/or campus ministry.
Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” In other words, if you’re getting input from multiple people, you’re going to make better decisions than you would on your own. When you intentionally surround yourself with the right people who love God, value authenticity, and are bold enough to call you toward godly living, your trust in God builds, and your doubts don’t linger and consume you. They can’t because, as the saying goes, there is safety in numbers. Just make sure those numbers value their relationship with Christ more than anything else.
I know in a world of earbuds and mail-order everything good community seems impossible. But I promise you it’s worth pursuing—especially when you’re wrestling with doubt. I also know it can feel like you’re in community simply because you’re surrounded by people all the time, whether you’re a student or in the working world. But real relationships require depth in a way that proximity alone won’t accomplish.
Likewise, don’t assume that because you’re well-connected via text and social media, you’re living in community. Church and authentic Christian camaraderie happen in the context of face-to-face interaction. If we know a person solely through the veneer of social media profiles and edited text messages, we don’t know that person entirely. Sure, we can begin to understand who a person is by watching the videos they post about what they appreciate, what kind of humor they enjoy, and what restaurant they ate at last weekend. But that’s only part of the picture. We’re deceiving ourselves if we think we can get to know someone deeply only through social media. The real you is the real you, and you shouldn’t want people to only experience the polished version. You were created for something much deeper.
There is no good substitute for the real thing. Find your people so that when you doubt, you do it alongside real human beings. Let them see through the shine of your edited self. That’s when real change, help, hope, and growth happen.
Day 3
Scriptures: Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 2:4-9, Titus 3:4-7
Remind Yourself of the Gospel
After scrolling for a few minutes, I looked up from my phone and saw the digital clock in the distance. It had been almost an hour, and I didn’t feel any better about my life. I felt worse. In fact, a quick audit of my emotions at that moment told me I was more anxious and lonely after scrolling than I was before I started.
The solution to my needs wouldn’t ever be found in self-medicating on my phone, that was for sure. I needed something much more than what I was searching for on my device. I needed something deeper and more potent—something eternal. A solution that would address the everyday problems in my life (like loneliness, anxiousness, and doubt) and also the more booming issues that bothered me when I’d try to sleep at night. In short, I needed to remind myself of the gospel.
One of the best ways to fight against doubt is to repeatedly remind yourself of the truth. Our culture can have a hypnotizing effect on us as it attempts to sway us to unbelief. Social media, advertising, YouTube, movies, TV, podcasts—practically everything, all the time, is pushing us away from God.
Consequently, if you don’t spend consistent time renewing your mind with the gospel, you’ll give in to culture’s push and abandon Christ. Each of us must gaze into the beauty of the gospel if we’re going to have a fighting chance to live in a way that honors God and shuns unbelief.
But what does it mean to gaze into the gospel? It’s always a good idea to start first with regular time in God’s Word. Scripture is how God chooses to communicate with us, so why would we ever treat something like that with apathy or take it for granted? Our perspective in life should be shaped by the Word, knowing that its central message is all about Jesus Christ.
The fact that God came down in the form of a human, lived a life of perfection, was executed unjustly, and conquered death in the Resurrection is astounding. Even though we as Christians may have heard this over and over again, we should never grow tired of how magnificent the gospel is. When we truly grasp the lengths God went to in order to rescue us from our own rebellion, it snaps the binding ropes of doubt that tie up our hearts.
The gospel is everything, and in it, we wield the most powerful of all weapons to be used against doubt. Show me a heart that forgets the gospel, and I’ll show you a life that is swallowed by the crushing effects of doubt. But show me a life that continually reminds itself of the truth of who Jesus is and who we are as a result of Jesus’s work, and I’ll show you a life of joy that is overwhelmed with God’s goodness and love.
Preach the gospel to yourself at all times. Drink deeply from the Scriptures and break free from the shackles of doubt.
Day 4
Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 1 Peter 3:15
Share Your Faith
I’ve never been 100% comfortable when I share my faith. Never. Maybe some other people have, but not me. I’ll tell you this, though: I never feel more alive than when I do.
When I communicate my faith, I’m excited, scared, happy, nervous, warm, and intimidated all at once. My mouth is usually dry, my armpits are usually wet, and my heart beats faster than when I’m on the elliptical for 45 minutes. It’s never easy for me, but regardless of how the conversation turns out, I always seem to walk away with a renewed sense of purpose and energy. On more than one occasion after I’ve shared my faith, I’ve walked away and said aloud, “Man, I feel so alive right now.”
When we are adopted into God’s family, we are given a new purpose beyond our personal relationship with the Lord. This purpose involves us being proactive about communicating our faith with others who need to hear about it. Sure, it’s scary and risky. And every single time, it involves us killing the default comfort setting that seems so prevalent and powerful inside our hearts.
I’m convinced one of the best ways to counteract the offensive attacks of doubt in your life is to proactively communicate the gospel with others.
Sharing the gospel is what we were made for. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20 isn’t just a charge for the “special” Christians—it’s a charge to anyone who follows Christ. There is no junior varsity in God’s kingdom.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, your life is not meant to be lived in the comfort of remaining silent about your faith. In fact, the discomfort that can come as a result of sharing your faith is a fantastic weapon against doubt. As we preach the gospel to others with love and care, we are reminded of God’s love and care for us, pushing doubt out of our lives and awakening worship within our hearts.
Day 5
Scriptures: Yield to the Spirit
If you’re intentional about dwelling on the beauty of God and His Word, doubt will have no room to fester in your heart, and your faith will grow. Consider what the apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
When we actually think about these things, an inevitable coinciding action will follow—the seeds of God’s peace will flood our lives. When we actively dwell on Christ Jesus instead of our recurrent doubts, it produces a life in step with God—a relationship unlike anything else we’ve ever experienced.
A life that is in step with God is a life lived under the authority of His rule. It’s a life that yields to the Holy Spirit and His instruction about what to do, what to say, how to live, how to think, and who to be.
When we become Christians and receive the gift of God’s payment for our sins through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) comes to live inside us. He dwells inside our bodies and gives us the power to live the Christian life.
Yielding to the Spirit and walking with God moment by moment is a lifestyle. It’s learning to depend on the Holy Spirit for His abundant resources as a way of life. As we walk in the Spirit, we have the ability to live a life pleasing to God, and we experience intimacy with Him and all He has for us. By faith, we experience God’s power through the Holy Spirit, giving us the ability to feed our faith instead of our doubts.