Doubt happens to the best of us. I know we sometimes put people on a pedestal like famous preachers, authors or even mature Christians we know and then criticize ourselves with comparisons like “I bet they are too spiritually mature to doubt like me. I wish I was more like them.” But the truth is, they do have times of doubt because we all do. We have times of doubt when tragedies strike for no reason or prayers go unanswered or we get mistreated for trying to do the right thing, etc. We wonder if anyone else struggles with the same doubts we do. Well, yes they do. We know from biblical records Abraham, Moses and even David had times of dealing with doubt. And so did John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Lk 7:28a). And when did Jesus make these remarks? Right after John sent some inquires to Jesus to help settle his own dealings with doubt. What does God do with or about our doubt? He lets the record of His word and His actions do the work of bringing light to our dark hours. Jesus responded to John’s doubt with a recounting of His works and these words: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Lk 7:23). Let’s be clear, everyone has times of dealing with doubt. Doubting can be disturbing and disrupting — but it need not destroy us. The next time you find yourself dealing with this darkness, bring a little light into the situation by reminding yourself of the faithfulness of God through His Words and look around at all He has done already for you as a means of seeing what He is yet to do.

Dr. William Burnham is pastor of Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.