Dear Person Struggling with Doubt,

It is common for Christians to doubt at some point. Even one of the more prolific people of the faith, second to Jesus, John the Baptist also doubted in Matthew 11.

Doubt does not mean disbelief, but rather, it is a feeling of great uncertainty. Many people doubt when something bad happens. For example, when someone close to us becomes ill and hasn't been cured as fast as we would like, we begin to doubt that God loves them. Or when our first love breaks up with us, and we doubt that God loves us or has anyone out there who truly loves us.

There have been times when I have doubt. Every time I have doubted, God gives me evidence of why He exists, and that He is present in all of our circumstances, whether we are happy, broken, doubting. God loves us and cares for us through everything we face in life.

Dr. Derek Staples, senior pastor at First Baptist Jacksonville, did a sermon back in April, the first Sunday back after the tornado hit campus and the city on March 19th, on this passage, called "Dealing with Doubt." One of the key points in his passage was that God doesn't just want to remove our doubts; He wants to help us overcome them."

This means that, when we doubt, God wants to help us overcome those doubts, and He usually gives us signs to show us that He is real and present!

Our doubts can be calmed and overcome by what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, which says, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for good work (CSB)."

What Paul is saying in those verses is that, when we doubt, we need to turn our eyes to Jesus. Look to His word, the Bible, for answers and clarity. Look to His word for confirmation and peace.

It is my hope that this will help you go through your doubts. Remember that God is present in every situation, whether we are broken, like in my previous article, or whatever. Remember Psalm 34:18 for that!

God Bless!