Christian Devotional: "Doubt Is An Element Of Faith"

Doubting God is a necessary element of having Faith in God. When our childlike faith is being challenged by life experiences, only doubting will deepen our faith in the end. When we allow ourselves to have doubt, we hold the paradox that challenging things happen, and we also remember times when we trusted and love was present.

Doubt is the necessary valley experience of life and of faith.

Transcript

Doubt is an element of faith.

Doubt is not the opposite of faith.

It is one element of faith.

Quote from Paul Tillich Meditation When we experience painful events like death,

Divorce,

Sudden loss,

Or trauma,

It feels like God's right hand has changed.

We do not recognize the God anymore in whom we once believed and even delighted in or whom we trusted.

It is like we've lost our naivete,

As if our childlike faith has been wiped away.

God has an unquestioned presence,

But suddenly he became a stranger.

Some Christians try to prevent this experience from happening.

Some say that having doubts means being far away from God.

Doubt,

However,

Is not the opposite of faith,

But an important and necessary element of it.

Doubting shows that something essential to us has been put into question.

Doubting is wondering if God can still be trusted after all that has happened.

The psalmist acknowledges his grief that God has changed.

And at the same time,

He says,

I will remember.

This is just like when the spouse of a person who has dementia sometimes doubts if there is any love left between them.

But the very act of remembering the other person and how he or she was in years past can restore a sense of love and connection.

Yes,

Doubt is part of faith.

To remain faithful and hopeful,

We need to go through times of doubt.

As the valley experience is naturally part of the mountain experience,

Doubting is part of the experience of faith.

The Bible quote is from Psalm 77,

Verse 10.

Then I said,

It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed.

I shall remember the deeds of the Lord.

Surely I will remember your wonders of old.

I will meditate on all your work and muse on your deeds.

I'm saying a prayer.

God,

In our dark hours,

In our night of the soul,

When doubt grabs us as if there is no morning,

As if life and love have ended,

Help us to remember.

We will remember those times when you sustained us,

Moments that were true and built on love and trust.

We will meditate on how you,

God,

Held us in the midst of strife.

And we are doubtful and thankful at the same time.

Amen.