Struggling with Doubt.

Faith

Okay, to be totally honest with you, I’ve been struggling with doubt and the whole faith-thing in general. I don’t know whether I’m growing closer or falling away.

But I wanted to share a couple things I’ve learned, as well as recommend some books (and two articles), just in case you’re also struggling.

5 Tips

1) Better to struggle with doubt than to have a cold or stagnant faith.

“From the spiritual giants of the Bible, I learn this crucial lesson about relating to an invisible God: Whatever you do, don’t forget God.”
From Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey.

2) Question everything, doubts included, not just God. (This is also from Yancey’s book).

3) Struggle with God, not away from Him. I got this one from Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson. At seventeen, she too was struggling with doubt and this is what her mom said: “God is big enough for your questions. Don’t be afraid to doubt, but go to him to do it.”

Keep reading your Bible, keep praying, and keep going to church, and ask Him your questions.

4) It comes and goes. A day of struggling may be followed by a day of rejoicing in God’s goodness. Or it may be as fast as hours, or minutes. Wade it out.

5) God is patient. He doesn’t punish us for doubting, and I’ve yet to be backhanded by a guardian angel (that’s a joke). He forgives us. Grace covers doubt too.

Although Tomas got stuck with the title, I’m pretty sure all or most of the disciples doubted. Remember they saw Jesus, touched him, and still struggled. Remember also how patient he was to them, and is to you.

3 Books

Books are the best teachers. You can ask them the same question over and over again, or bombard them with questions; and they don’t mind, or give you wierd looks. Here are three books that may help you.

• How to be your own selfish pig by Susan Schaffer McCaulay.

So this book is like a bunch of conversations about whether or not Christianity is reasonable and fits reality. I like how she lets you think.

• Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

Was Jesus a madman, a devil, or the Christ? – that’s the question this book seeks to answer, but other questions follow: was the resurrection a hoax? are the scriptures reliable?, etc.

Case for a Creator, another book by Strobel, goes into whether or not science “disproves” God.

• Reaching For the Invisible God by Philip Yancey.

Excellent. This book really helped me, and made me realize that I’m not the only one who struggles with faith. He’s more of a companion than a guide, which helps; and I like how he quoted people like Chesterton, Lewis, and Flannery O’Conner a lot.

2 Articles

• The War and the Battles by Melody Personette: Link.

• Trusting in God…Trust Fall…and Falling into Him… by Alexandria Grace: Link.

I hope this helped you, or at least reminded you that your not alone in doubting. Doubting Janes or not, let’s fight on and follow Him.