Doubt

Hey guys, let’s be real for a second. How many of you have ever had questions about God or about your faith?

Now, how many of you would actually want to stand up in front of everyone and ask those questions out loud? …Probably not many of us. And here’s why: somewhere along the way, people started treating doubt like it’s the same thing as unbelief. That’s one of the worst mistakes we’ve made.

Because when we do that, people stop feeling like they have a safe place to ask honest questions. Instead of opening up about their struggles, they feel like they have to stay quiet, or wrestle with their doubts alone.

And here’s what’s happening more and more—thanks to the internet. When people feel like they can’t bring their doubts to the church, they turn to online communities instead. They find people who are asking the same questions, but often without the hope of Jesus. And before long, they start what’s called deconstruction—breaking down everything they’ve ever believed—until some of them decide they don’t believe any of it anymore. Some even walk away from church completely, saying it’s just a place where you’re not allowed to ask questions or think for yourself.

But listen—that doesn’t have to be your story.

It’s okay to have questions. It’s okay to admit that you don’t know everything about God, or that you don’t understand why He does what He does. Honestly? None of us have it all figured out. We’re all human. We’re all limited.

And here’s the good news: doubt isn’t new. People have wrestled with it for as long as humanity has existed. Even people in the Bible struggled with questions and doubts.

So let’s look at one of those moments together. If you’ve got your Bible, turn with me to Mark 9:17–24

In this story, a huge crowd gathers around Jesus because they’ve seen Him do amazing miracles. And in the middle of all this, we see one man’s very real, very honest struggle with faith.

Mark 9:17–24 ESV

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Let’s be real—if anyone had a reason to doubt, it was this man. His son had been possessed by a demon since he was a little kid. Imagine watching your child suffer like that for years. He’s tried everything. He even brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they couldn’t do anything.

So finally, he turns to Jesus Himself. And what does he say? “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Do you hear the doubt in that? He doesn’t say, “I know you can help.” He says, “If you can.”

And I love Jesus’ response. He kind of flips it back on the guy. Jesus says, “‘If you can’?... All things are possible for the one who believes.” In other words—Do you really believe I can do this? Do you really believe I am who I say I am?

And then the dad gives one of the most honest, real answers in the whole Bible: “I believe—help my unbelief.”

Maybe you can relate to this dad. You believe—you really do. You’ve trusted Jesus, turned from your sin, and put your faith in Him. But even as a follower of Christ, you still have questions. There are things about God you don’t understand.

If that’s you tonight, hear this: that’s okay.

Maybe your prayer needs to sound just like that dad’s: “God, I believe—but help me with my unbelief.”

Because let’s be honest—there are a lot of things about God that are hard to wrap our minds around. Like…

Why does God allow bad things to happen?

Why did my friend die, or why did my family member get cancer?

How can God be three persons and yet one at the same time?

How does God bend the laws of nature to perform miracles?

How could Jesus be fully human and fully God at the same time?

These aren’t dumb questions. They’re real, legitimate questions—questions people have wrestled with for thousands of years.

So if you’re carrying questions tonight—big or small—know this: you’re not alone. And this is a safe space to ask them, to wrestle with them, and to grow together as we seek God.

So here’s the challenge for you tonight: don’t run from your questions—bring them to Jesus.

The worst thing you can do with doubt is to keep it hidden, to pretend you’re fine, and to let it eat away at you in silence. But the best thing you can do is what this dad did—bring your questions honestly to Jesus and say, “I believe, but help my unbelief.”

Here’s the truth: Jesus isn’t afraid of your questions. He isn’t going to push you away because of your doubts. Instead, He invites you to come closer—to know Him better, to trust Him more, and to see that He really is who He says He is.

So tonight, whether your faith feels rock-solid or shaky, bring it to Him. Be honest. Pray boldly. And remember—you don’t have to struggle alone. We’re in this together, and Jesus is big enough to handle your doubts.