Doubt

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Here are some more mind-blowing facts:

The Eiffel Tower grows in summer: Due to thermal expansion, the Eiffel Tower expands by a few centimeters during hot summer months. 

Honey never spoils: Honey's high sugar content prevents it from spoiling, giving it an effectively indefinite shelf life. 

Koalas have fingerprints: Koala fingerprints are remarkably similar to human fingerprints, even under a microscope. 

The human brain is constantly cleaning itself: A process called glymphatic clearance helps the brain remove waste products, effectively "cleaning" itself. 

Sharks can blink their eyes: While they have eyelids, sharks don't blink because the water around them keeps their eyes clean. 

Ants are incredibly strong: Ants can lift objects up to 5,000 times their own weight. 

Astronauts grow taller in space: Due to the lack of gravity, astronauts can experience spinal growth and become a few inches taller in space. 

Babies have more bones than adults: Newborns have around 300 bones, while adults have 206. The extra bones fuse together as babies grow. 

Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren't: Botanically, bananas are berries because they develop from a single ovary, while strawberries have multiple ovaries. 

I was happy to believe all these things until I read this statement…

Birds are descended from dinosaurs: Birds are direct descendants of theropod dinosaurs, meaning they share an evolutionary link with creatures like the Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

Create Tension

We all have doubts…it’s normal. But What about doubts when it relates to God, Jesus and the Bible?

Is it sin to doubt, what do we do with our doubts? How do we handle them?

Believe it or not having doubts about God, Jesus and the Bible is common. Some of the greatest men of God in history had doubts.

Charles Spurgeon writes in his autobiography!

I have told you before that, some years ago, I felt a great depression of spirit; I knew whom I had believed; but, somehow, I could not get the comfort out of the truth I preached. I even began to wonder whether I was really saved;

Provide Solution

John the Baptist was born to a childless elderly people whose names were Zachariah and Elisabeth.

John was born into a family of priests and was the ancestor of Aaron from the tribe of Levi.​

Archangel Gabriel brought the good news about the birth of John to Zachariah during the Divine service and stated also the name of the future prophet. For his unbelief, Zachariah was punished and lost his voice for 9 months and 8 days until the day when he had to announce the name of his child.

John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were second cousins on the mother’s side. John was 6 months older than Jesus.

​They met each other only two times. Their first meeting occurred when they were still in the womb of their mothers. The second time was at the baptism of the Savior. ​

John, as well as Jesus, avoided death in his childhood, when Herod the Great ordered to kill the infants (14 thousands were killed in Bethlehem). However, he would suffer in the future from the hands of the king’s son – Herod Antipas. According to the tradition, Zachariah was murdered in the temple, while Elisabeth escaped with the child to the desert and lived there until she died. 

Until the age of 30, John lived in the desert of Judea. He wore a tight clothing made of the camel hair, and ate wild honey and dried locusts.

John baptized people in the Jordan river in Bethabara (6-7 miles from the Dead Sea). The word Bethabara means “the house of ford”, since in that very place more than a thousand years prior to the baptism of the Lord, the people of Israel had crossed the Jordan river on their way to the Promised Land. In the memory of that miraculous event, they built there a special monument – an altar made of 12 stones.

John’s baptism was a symbolic purification and the final stage of repentance after the confession of sins. 

John is called “the Forerunner” because he began his preaching earlier than Christ did, and was the announcer of His coming to the world.

John is called “the Baptist” because his main mission was fulfilled on the day of the Baptism of the Lord. On that very day, St John was honored to see the Holy Trinity.

After John’s preaching, a whole group of his disciples appeared and followed him. They were called “the disciples of John” and led an ascetic life. Once John pointed to Christ and said to two of his disciples, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) and they followed Him. Those were the future apostles Andrew and John.

St John convicted Herod Antipas for his illegal marriage with Herodias, the wife of his own brother Philipp, who was also Herod’s niece. The Forerunner was imprisoned after Christ’s sermon on the mount. He was so popular among the people that the authorities did not dare to execute him for a long time.

During his imprisonment, John was visited by his disciples, and even Herod himself would often come to him to have conversations. 

As a reward for her dancing at the feast, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, got John’s head on the plate at the behest of her mother. According to the tradition, the cut off head continued convicting the sins of the royal family. Terrified Herodias hit the head with a dagger and stabbed its tongue with pins. 

St John the Forerunner was executed in AD 32.

There is a tradition according to which Salome died soon for what she had done to the prophet. Herod and Herodias were terrified when they had learned about the miracles of Christ and thought that it was John who had resurrected somehow. Herod Antipas payed for his sins as well: his army was defeated by the Arabian kind Aretha IV, who was the father of Phaselis, Herod’s enraged lawful wife. Herod did not receive any help from Rome and his territories were lost, while he and Herodias were sent to exile. Soon Herod would get sick and die in pain.

John came to this world “in the spirit and power of Elijah” and was the greatest one of all the prophets.

Being imprisoned for quite a long time, John began to doubt Christ.

Matthew 11:1–4 “1 When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. 2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—”

John 1:29–34

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

When dealing with doubt we need to understand that doubt is not the opposite of faith.

Matthew 14:22–36 (NLT) Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning* Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!*” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong* wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

Doubt is saying “I can’t believe” while unbelief is saying “I won’t believe”

Doubt says I can’t believe because the evidence seems to not support what I’m suppose to believe!

Unbelief says I will not believe not matter what the evidence suggests.

Doubt comes from lacking information while unbelief is about rejecting information!

Too many times we doubt our beliefs and believe our doubts.

We need to believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts.

Overcoming doubt is not about “the what” or “the why” but the Who?

Who did John go to when he had doubt?

Encourage Change

Dealing with Doubt

. Acknowledge and Accept Doubt:

Normalize it: Recognize that doubt is a common human experience and doesn't necessarily indicate unbelief

Don't fear it: Doubt shouldn't be a source of shame or guilt

2. Seek Clarity and Information:

Gather knowledge:

Talk it out:

Question assumptions:

3. Find Support and Encouragement:

Connect with others: Share your doubts and experiences with others who have walked the path your on.

Remember: Remind yourself of what God has already done for you.

Seek God:

When Charles Spurgeon had doubts about his salvation, what did he do?

and, having a holiday, and being away from home, I went to the Wesleyan Chapel, and a local preacher occupied the pulpit that morning. While he preached a sermon full of the gospel, the tears flowed from my eyes, and I was in such a perfect delirium of joy on hearing the gospel, which I so seldom have an opportunity of doing, that I said, “Oh, yes, there is spiritual life within me, for the gospel can touch my heart, and stir my soul.”

Too often when we have doubts we fail to go to the one we have doubts about!

4. Embrace the Journey:

Doubt can be a catalyst: View doubt as an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and deeper understanding.

It's okay to have questions: Recognize that it's natural to question things and that it doesn't mean you don’t have faith . 

Learn from experience: Reflect on the lessons learned from dealing with doubt and use them to guide your future decisions and actions.