As I’ve been reading through the life of Jesus, I’m struck by how the people that knew Jesus the best and followed Him the longest doubted Him.
Check out John the Baptist, in Matthew 11. God had revealed the identity of Jesus to John before John was even born (Luke 1:41). Yet in the dark final days of John’s life, he experiences doubt about who Jesus is. This is not just a theoretical or abstract question for John. His purpose in life was to be Jesus’ forerunner. He spent his entire life pointing people to Jesus, the Messiah. Now, as he sits in prison waiting to die, he wrestles with doubts that make him question his whole life’s work.
Sometimes, doubt is like that. Deep and all-consuming.
Or look at Peter, in Matthew 14. He has just displayed significant faith by stepping out of the boat and ONTO, not INTO, the waves. Can you imagine?! Then, a flicker of doubt. He takes his eyes off of Jesus and gets distracted by the storm around him, and that’s all it takes for him to begin sinking into the water.
Sometimes, doubt is like that. Sudden and overwhelming.
Even after Jesus’ resurrection, His followers experienced doubt. In John 20, we read the story of Thomas, who famously refused to believe what was happening until he had tangible proof that Jesus had raised from the dead. And Matthew 28:16-17 tells us that when the eleven remaining disciples saw Jesus (post-resurrection), “they worshiped him – but some of them doubted”. These are the same disciples who spent three years watching Jesus perform miracles and listening as He repeatedly prepared them for what was going to happen regarding His death, burial, and resurrection.
Sometimes, doubt is like that. Stubborn and skeptical.
I don’t know about you, but it is such a comfort to me to know that these pillars of the faith, including Jesus’ forerunner (John the Baptist), and the rock (Peter) on which Jesus would build His church (Matthew 16:18), experienced times of doubt. Not only did they experience doubt; they brought their doubts to Jesus. And Jesus responded, not with anger or frustration, but with encouragement, and by reaching out His hand.
We all experience doubt in some way, shape, or form, and to varying degrees throughout our lives. If you are struggling with doubt right now, don’t be afraid to bring those doubts to Jesus.
Jesus can handle your doubts.
He doesn’t love you any less when you experience moments or seasons of doubt. He doesn’t give up on you. And He doesn’t turn His back on you.
Janae Thomas
Teaching and Chaplaincy Assistant
Fearless Family of Churches
