Christians: When you have moments of doubt, do you get worried?

Question

Do you then try to find your faith again? Why not go with the doubt and see where it leads?

Answer 1

When I have moments of doubt, I remember the fact that 10 of the 12 Apostles who walked with Jesus were martyred because of what they preached. This strengthens my faith and my doubts go away.

Without going into too much detail about myself, let me tell you that I'm an Assistant Chief Investigator and I talk to people all the time who lie to me. But most wouldn't even go to prison for a lie, much less get the death penalty for sticking to a lie. They'll sing like a bird before they lose their freedom or die for what's not true.

Why is this situation any different?

Answer 2

I don't ever lose my faith so much as I lose sight of it sometimes; even the disciples who were with Jesus day in and day out for three years had this problem when they asked, "Lord, increase our faith." There is nothing wrong with doubt or worry; you just can't let that absence of faith dictate your actions. So it's a non sequitur (Latin for "it does not follow") to "go with the doubt and see where it leads" because doubt is literally a non-entity -- the absence of faith -- on the order of darkness is the absence of light, not a distinct entity in itself.

Yes, I'm a Christian, but I'm also a human being. Someone who tells you they never have doubts is lying, but proceeding in spite of that and the attendant worry is the mark of being who God created us to be. Finding your faith (good phrase, because it always is "your faith") is not the problem so much as living as though you have faith is. That's a challenge we face every day.

Answer 3

Surely, moments of doubt cloud my mind at times and when this happens to me, I am worried if I have prayed enough. When I doubt I feel vulnerable and needy. This feeling of doubt usually lead me to search for strength and enlightenment. It is better to have some doubt at times because with it you would then be more prudent and not over impetus in your action. Prayer is the answer of doubts that leads me to a deeper faith in the God who has loved me first.

Answer 4

No.

No.

I do go with the doubt. I do go with the doubt and it always leads to a deeper faith.

You can be a Christian and question.

Answer 5

I went with the doubt, and it didnt take me any place special. I began doubting when I was about 20, and then I turned my back on the whole God thing all together. But I wound up back, believing, and had more faith than when I began, about 5 years later.

Just another personal proof as to the awesome power of God in my life.

I like doubt, it makes me stronger.

Answer 6

Duh. Of course.

Then I do the rational thing, which is to stop and reflect on what I know about God, human nature, and the universe in general.

That then makes me think about what God has done personally for me and others, and for the universe in general.

Then I think about the impossibility of origin of the universe under our current understanding of physics.

Then I think about how incredibly well people behave when they are given absolute power, which does not in and of itself corrupt, but does allow for greater opportunities to express the internal corruption.

Then I think about how a Holy, Just, Loving, and Merciful God must view his creation, especially humanity.

Then I realize we are in deep doodoo.

Then I realize we need some sort of way out of here.

Then I realize, "oh yeah, somebody did that a couple of thousand years ago"

Then I am thankful that there is at least some hope in what is otherwise a collection of sentient dirt that will be maggot food in a relatively short period of time...

That is exactly where doubt leads me :)

As always, good sir, and excellent question!


Kudo's to sweetie_baby's comment about doubt making me stronger. Amen! :)

Answer 7

Yes and No.

Whenever doubt hits me, it has nothing to do with doubting my faith, but rather the events and plans of my life. And it is this doubt that causes me to fall back onto my faith.

For a wise man once said to me, "Set your course in fear, and ride the wave to greatness."

Answer 8

This is an interesting question. I was raised in a Christian Church, and attended until I was in my early twenties. One time I heard the minister say in a sermon, "When you stop worrying the Devil's gotcha." I don't know why but that stuck. Even though I don't go to church anymore, and I'm not influenced by the Hell Fire Brimstone stuff, that still crosses my mind. I can't seem to let that go. This is one of the reason I don't attend church, I think so many churches focus on scare tactics. I think this is detrimental, and it should be more about humanity and goodwill. Anyway, I don't know if this helped answer your question, but its my thought.

Answer 9

There have been times when I've had moments of doubt, but it didn't last long at all. Doubt leads nowhere.

Answer 10

I've never really had doubts. Questions, yes. Doubts, no. When I have questions, I am calmed by the fact that I will receive the answers I need in Heaven.