HOW TO DEAL WITH DOUBT
Last time, we looked at our Christian responsibility to, “Have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 22). When we consider the patient example of Christ with his disciples, and our own struggles with trust, we realize how important it is to follow Jude’s directive. Perhaps you’ve already had an opportunity to listen to and sympathize with someone struggling with doubt, but what about your own struggles?
What do you do when you have doubts? An encouraging answer to this question comes from James 1:3, which declares,
“you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
There are three vital truths in this verse that every Christian needs to be reminded of in times of doubt.
First, doubt is normal and necessary. Doubt is a testing of our faith, but it is not the failure of it. Failure of faith is disbelief, not doubt. And if the Christian life is a continual process of growing in faith, then doubt will be a normal and necessary experience on the path to mature faith.
Second, doubt is always temporary. Because the point of “the testing of your faith” is to produce something, we know the test and the doubts will come to a conclusion. Like having a cavity filled, the process of growing faith may not be pleasant, but it is temporary and can therefore be endured.
Third, doubt is always productive. Did you notice how definitive James was? He didn’t say testing “usually produces perseverance,” or that it “has potential to produce perseverance.” The reason he’s so sure is because he’s talking about genuine, saving faith. If doubt leads to unbelief, there was likely never saving faith to begin with. Christians who have walked through moments of doubt, and come through trusting God more, can be confident that every subsequent test will produce the same result.
Doubters, be encouraged! “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”