Dealing with Doubt

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. …”

Matthew 28:1-6 NLT  

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

Matthew 28:16-17 NLT

Why Do You Doubt?

Questions you can’t answer

Situations that seem unfair

Hurts you can’t resolve

Your faith is a journey, not a destination.

The strongest faith isn’t a faith that never doubts.

The strongest faith is a faith that grows through your doubts.

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” … John 20:24-25 NLT

They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But [Thomas] replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

John 20:25 NLT

“Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking.” —Oswald Chambers

So then [Jesus] told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead 15… let us go to him.” 16Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

John 11:14-16 NIV

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. John 20:26-28 NLT

II. God is not distant in your doubts.

Faith isn’t the absence of doubt.

Faith is the means to push through it.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me ... Psalm 23:4 NKJV

 

John 20:26-28 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

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