EXPOSE | The Depth of Doubt
“In Purgatorio, from Dante’s Divine Comedy, it is said the root of every sin is a disordered love. We are the most disordered, ill-prioritized generation yet—it should be no surprise that we laud doubt, loathe decision, and critique certainty.” – Lore Ferguson Wilbert
EXPLORE | Help Us With Our Unbelief
While this may be more true of Lore’s generation than previous generations, or even of young “adults” generally, she reveals a potent, layered combination of doubt. In fact, it reads more like an all-out resentment and rejection of anything with the audacity to be called certain.
It would be hard not to conclude that remaining in a state of praising doubt, intensely hating decisiveness, and criticizing certainty, could be the basis for perpetual, if not irreversible, doubt.
Regardless of its depth, persistent doubt is certainly devastating, as even infrequent, ill-timed bouts can needlessly delay, derail, or even slowly destroy us.
We have our own experiences to tell us that, but there are three people from the New Testament that affirm even those that should have the most confidence can still doubt, but that there is also a right response to it.
In the case of John the Baptist, having spent his whole life proclaiming the coming of the Messiah and seeing the doves descending from heaven and hearing the voice of God when Jesus was baptized, his doubt would later lead him to ask “are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” (Matt. 11:3).
While he is often referred to as “Doubting Thomas”, it would seem that Thomas was more of a skeptic, than a doubter. But he didn’t believe until he was given evidence. Jesus was quick to dispel any notion that His resurrection should be in question. Though Jesus’ life had given Thomas sufficient reason to believe, he still needed to see and touch Jesus for himself.
“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. Unbelief is the opposite of faith.” – Alisa Childers
Lastly, I wanted to highlight the story of the father who’s son was demon-possessed. He knew enough to go to Jesus as the only hope of healing his son, but when told to believe, acknowledged that he would need “help with my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
These three accounts should help us see that we should not be surprised by doubt, nor feel guilty. People who knew more, saw more, and had more evidence to trust than we will ever have, doubted even after having sufficient reason not to.
The contrast between these three instances, and particularly the last, and how Lore described her generation should be evident. They almost represent the opposite ends of the spectrum when faced with doubt.
The idea that we should ask for help with our unbelief is just one crucial element in properly addressing doubt.
EXECUTE | Gaining Ground on Doubt
Sometimes it doesn’t take much to discover the doubt we didn’t know we had. Other times, it may require that our world comes crashing down.
Indecision can seep in undetected, and go unnoticed until we go to trust–and realize that there isn’t anything there, or, it at best seems a little too soft to stand on.
Whether we’re calling into question the truth, or are just uncertain, here are several considerations to keep us free from the devastating state of persistent doubt.
Confront it head on.
Starting with the potent, layered combination of confusion brought up by Lore above, take a moment to assess how you’re currently responding to uncertainty. Is it going unchecked? Are you too accepting of it? Are you dwelling too long with indecision? Have you concluded that there are no solid answers to your questions or concerns?
If you’re answering yes to most of these questions, then it may very well be a case of persistent indecision, which, will need to be more formally confronted. If you choose not to, you run the risk of perpetuating this potentially devastating state of mind.
Mind those feelings.
When we doubt our better moments, are we really saying that “now” we know the truth—but before we didn’t? That is the very nature of feelings. If so, it might mean that you’re giving how you feel too much latitude.
Maintain a better grip on the facts, and hold loosely your feelings.
Doubt is NOT the absence of belief.
Tim Keller references the essay “The Critique of Doubt,” by Michael Polanyi, where he argues that indecision and belief are ultimately “equivalent.” Essentially, our doubting one thing is simply denying one belief in favor of another. It isn’t the absence of belief.
“You can’t doubt belief A except on the basis of some belief B you’re believing instead at the moment.” – Tim Keller
Even with uncertainty, there is still some belief. The conflict comes when we’ve exchanged what is (more or less) incontrovertible for what is more easily accepted or denied. The issue isn’t getting more faith, but adding more facts to your current level of belief.
Doubt your doubts.
Tim Keller says to “doubt your doubts.” So, when faced with an ‘I doubt it,” doubt it. When we do, we may find that we don’t have sufficient reason to be skeptical. Exploring why you’re indecisive to see if it is warranted may reveal that you do have a basis for the belief you had held more strongly.
Humble, but certain.
“Certainty is a charlatan, doubt a deceiver. The steadfast confidence of faith kneels between, neither triumphant nor defeated but possessed by a sober goodness, a joyful sorrow too powerful for the words that might bear it: “Thy kingdom come, they will be done.”” – Matthew Lee Anderson
Humility isn’t indecision; there is a difference between arrogance and standing firm. Humility isn’t saying that “you can’t be sure.” We can be sure, but we are not to be prideful. Matthew’s quote begs two keys questions: Who’s kingdom come? Who’s will be done?
Lean TOWARD God…
Alisa Childers highlights a concept from Bobby Conway from his book Doubting Toward Faith: doubt is directional. “We can doubt toward God, or we can doubt away from him. If you’re struggling with doubt, I encourage you to doubt toward God.”
As we confront uncertainty, check our feelings, and challenge our basis for doubting, the humble turn we take should be toward God, with the three New Testament examples I mentioned above in mind. Each of those accounts provides three requests we are to make of God as it relates to our skepticism:
- Ask for help with our unbelief
- Ask the reassurance
- Ask for evidence
Get ready to go deep.
Indecision may signal that is it time to wrestle. If only growing was easy–then everyone would be mature. What you’re sensing may not be so much an issue with what you’re believing, or not believing, but instead may be indicating that you can’t stay where you are.
“Realize that [doubts] are often the birth pangs of deepened faith… we receive faith from our parents in a mediated way… for the most part, it is untested. Trials, temptations, and the suffering of life tests our faith.” – Michael Patton
We shouldn’t be surprised by indecision, or feel guilty. And probably the worst thing we can do when we find ourselves in doubt, is coast–as if the answers will find us, and if they don’t, become justified in our doubting.
Fight apathy when you’re uncertain. Don’t let it keep you from pursuing, and adding to the facts.
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Further reading:
I never expected doubt
Dealing with doubt
Dealing with doubting
5 ways to doubt your doubts
Doubt doubts
The Gospel Coalition: Certainty is a charlatan doubt a deceiver
The Gospel Coalition: Doubt a consideration
Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash
