DEEPENING DOUBTS

Matthew 11:1–11 ESV

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

NO DOUBT CHRISTIAN’S CAN HAVE DOUBTS.

Unbelieving doubt asks questions in order to challenge. Believing doubt asks questions in order to learn.

Think about a prosecutor asking questions of a witness. He isn’t asking questions to learn something but rather to disprove something, to make a point. He has the answers already and is challenging the witness. This is the attitude of unbelieving doubt. It puts God on the witness stand and treats Him as if He owes us answers and as if we are the authority.

Now think about a young child asking her parents questions. She has total trust in their ability to answer and is simply seeking to learn and understand. This is what the Bible calls “childlike” faith and is a good example of believing doubt. It isn’t sure. It doesn’t know. But it asks with trust in the one who has authority and power.

At its base, doubt is simply not knowing something, not being sure. And it is inevitable because we are finite and sinful people who are called to trust in an infinite and perfect God. We simply can’t understand everything about Him. We will encounter numerous aspects of God’s character, plan, and work that befuddle us because His “wondrous knowledge is beyond” us Psalm 139:6

Psalm 139:6 ESV

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

So here’s the rub: when we are befuddled, do we see that as reason not to trust God or do we see that as evidence God is eminently trustworthy? Unbelieving doubt sees mystery as a threat and as ominously untrustworthy. When it doesn’t understand something about God it sees that as a mark against God’s character.

Believing doubt, on the other hand, reflects Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” When believing doubt encounters the unknown it responds with faith—resting in what it does know about God’s character and promises from His Word to find confidence in what it doesn’t understand. The mystery is not a threat but rather a promise that God is working in ways beyond our limited capacity to see and understand.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

BELIEVING DOUBT TAKES ITS DOUBT TO JESUS.

Adam and Eve were the original unbelieving doubters. They listened to what God told them and decided they knew better. Unbelieving doubt is willful rebellion against God just like theirs. It is the insistence that we know better than God and would be better off if He did things our way. Ultimately it seeks to subjugate God to our authority.

BELIEVING DOUBT STRENGTHENS REAL FAITH.

Matthew 14:12 ESV

And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Christ sets the example for the believing doubter. In our moments of greatest uncertainty and in the face of our biggest fears and questions we are to respond as He did in the garden of Gethsemane: make our plea to God for help and then submit to His perfect will. We will not always get our way. We will not always get clear answers. But God will always hear us and respond to us. He will give us what is best and what we need. And, on top of His example, the work of Christ Himself gives us this assurance.