A long time ago in a far away land, I stepped off the plane and was immediately enveloped by a sea of unfamiliar faces. With the formalities out of the way, I scanned the crowd and spotted an Arab gentleman holding a placard with my name. I walked up to him and offered a greeting. He replied with something I couldn’t catch, and his demeanor wasn’t very welcoming. I didn’t respond as I couldn’t comprehend a single word he said. I found myself unusually speechless; quietude seemed best under the circumstances. While I stood uncertain about how to respond, he grabbed my luggage and began to lead the way. His mission was to transport me from the airport to my new work place; an hour’s journey. A whirlwind of confusion and fear swirled in my mind even though I had been briefed that this was the standard protocol. Should I trust him to get me to my destination, or should I wait for some extra reassurance from the management? With uncertainty gnawing at me, I urged myself to make a decision swiftly! He stood, holding the cab door open for me to enter.
All on my own, with no outside solace whatsoever, my belief in my Lord soared to new heights, and I reassured myself, “Just move forward, it’s going to be alright!” There is no turning back. Did I have a choice? Nay! With unwavering faith, I let God guide me through the vast stretches of desert sands, trusting He would lead me on as He had done for many years!! (those experiences and some hilarious moments could be captured in a blog post some day)
Now, to the subject! Is it okay to doubt?
I believe, yes it is perfectly okay to doubt.
Life resembles a rollercoaster ride, brimming with exhilarating peaks and daunting drops. In those moments of ambiguity and unpredictability, we find ourselves grappling with questions that seem to have no clear resolution about what lies ahead. You do not know the next turn or twist.
Why does doubt creep in? Our minds are naturally geared towards being actively involved and curious. We are always engaged in the ongoing journey of experimenting, contemplating, and gaining knowledge. Along the way, when faced with uncertainties and unpredicted circumstances, look who wanders in? Doubt.
How do we tackle our uncertainties? Doubt requires illumination for showing the path. It’s akin to dispelling darkness; a lamp is called for. It just doesn’t help simply to deny doubts or to feel guilty about them.
Doubt can be a tricky mindset to navigate. Any respite? Yes. Seek the One who can eliminate uncertainty. Look to His Word for guidance and connect with Him through prayer.
A friendly reminder: We don’t have to tackle everything by ourselves. There is plenty of assistance accessible. I’ve found that adhering to God’s guidance, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, often results in much better outcomes than relying only on my own insights. This lesson is crucial, and I make sure to be mindful of it all the time.
When something profoundly affects your life during challenging times, seeking answers is natural. Look to God, not the circumstances. Think about how big our God is! True faith isn’t just believing in God; it’s about trusting in God, walking with God, even when we are filled with doubt and make mistakes.
The serpent’s first question in the creation narrative, “Did God really say that?”, cleverly sowed seeds of doubt in the minds of Adam and Eve. Then there were Cain, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Jonah, and Paul. The list goes on. Thomas wasn’t the only doubter. Is it normal? I don’t know. But it is not uncommon.
In a discussion on an open forum once, there was this question: As Christians, is it okay to doubt? Some individuals responded passionately, exclaiming, “Absolutely not! Where is your faith? You must believe! The Bible commands you to do so!”
I was a little amused. Now, we do know that many Christians, just like everyone else, encounter times of doubt and uncertainty in their faith. To me, the concept – indeed the substance – of faith is incredibly profound. Even though the journey has been challenging, I am dedicated to nurturing this unique gift of the Holy Spirit.”
As we read in (Gal 5: 22-23) “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things, there is no law.”
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.
James 1:6 reads “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind”.
Romans 1:17 states, “For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’.
I am also reminded of one of the greatest theological and philosophical minds of the past, C.S. Lewis who shares that ‘Faith like many beliefs, follows from evidence and is subject to challenges.’ Faith seems to consolidate as a result of sound reasoning.
Faith has a companion. She is called courage. Faith doesn’t mean you won’t have doubts; it means, you choose to act despite them. What about courage? Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the willingness to act despite it. If waves of doubt threaten to shake your faith, remember to stay calm and steadfast.
Life is a solitary journey; no one else can walk it for us. But there’s always the tiny voice at the back of my mind that says, “You see, I’m here, I’m in charge of this creation. I’m sovereign.” Oh, what a comfort!!
The whisperer – our adversary – sows doubts in our thoughts. Be ready to confront him with the Word! He doesn’t stand a chance.
Read Colossians 1: 23 “If you continue in your faith, established and firm, do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
My dear friends, while we may not have had an encounter with Jesus, we can still have faith in the goodness of God. Even in times of doubt, fear, and uncertainty, there is a part of us that clings to hope and love for Jesus. This love is strong and all-encompassing. Let’s nurture it and spread it to others. May we find comfort in God’s peace, even amidst our doubts.
Doubt your doubts.
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The author’s bio (in her own words):
# Medical Microbiologist. I love science. Aww! The freaking microbes are my best friends. You can call me a virus hunter too—status quo for almost two decades. I love assisting physicians to diagnose and aid in healing humans efficiently. An alumna of the CMC Vellore, my career trajectory led me to the vibrant Middle East; my profile was enhanced there, working alongside professionals from the Royal Health Ministry. My “Aha” moments are when I’m engrossed in reading. How magically they steal my time! Currently a homemaker, I consider it a real privilege to write as a guest in one of the remarkable weblogs I follow avidly!
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Very nice presentation of the concept of fear in concordance to be overcome by faith and hope in Christ.
Aw! Always ❤️ to read your posts Sneha. Thank you.
That was a very encouraging piece you wrote, Sneha! Thanks for sharing it. Were you in UAE?
Robert
Hat-trick… just awesome as usual. Looking forward to the hilarious moments and travel experience
Hi Sneha ! Wonderful and I am sure you spent a lot of time preparing and writing this.Ya ! At times I doubt but as u said when God is in control and HE takes care of it.May God continue to bless you my dear.Regards to your family especially the little one. Very good and keep it up.Let many souls come closer to God.
I had a similar experience once I landed in Geneva Airport from Bangalore, I caught a train to Vevey (a beautiful village) where Nestle’s Headquarters is situated. I travelled along with my country manager. Landed on sunday evening by 4 pm I visited my collegue’s house near by she came airport to pick me up and after getting refreshed in my house where I stayed …she took me to her house by explaining the landmarks and few points about the village.
1. We have to maintain silence
2. Very rarely you can find people after 6 PM
3. While cooking the rice it is mandatory to switch on the chimney, If they see smoke coming out of our window, they will alert the police.
After hearing all these instructions I headed towards my home and lost the landmark and walked straight, after 1/2 hour walk I realized that I am lost ….. As mentioned in point 2 I could not find any human, I got frightened and started praying ….I was in a doubt whether God is hearing my prayers, suddenly a flash came in my mind and I was able to recollect a word in my address “Avenue-de-Corsier”…..I saw a direction board “Corsier Village” relating these two, I continued with my walk and prayers…I saw a lone man who was playing with his little daughter…I ran to him seeking for help…He can understand french and I was speaking in english only word which connected us is NESTLE….he showed me the Nestle office down from the hill where I was able to see my collegues from top….unknowingly I have climbed up the hill where CHARLIE CHAPLIN was burried.
After 2 hours my doubts got cleared how God was leading me through all these way.
Well written, aptly resonates to every one in a way or other!! Keep jogging sorry…blogging!!
What you have written is absolutely true. We all doubt but we need to cling onto God.You have explained it beautifully. May God bless you.
Thank you sneha,this has come in the right time for me and my husband ,we r in the process of finalizing a projectaftermy husband left his job as the old job was pressurising him ,though we are rooted in Christ we still are humans ,though we have faith it’s two and half years since we are waiting for this it makes us pull our heads, though we are saved it’s hard but it’s only Christ who is going to do everything. Thank you girl for this encouraging article.
I regained my faith.
So true & challenging.. “find comfort in God’s peace, even amidst our doubts.. and doubt your doubts.”
God bless you.. continue to be blessing.
Well defined! I just loved your writing Sneha!!❤️❤️
Perfect! Great piece of writing!!
Doubt – what a topic to discuss upon. Yes, when faced with life’s difficulties we doubt whether our Lord hears our prayers. Really a good topic to discuss upon. Though we doubt, we have a ever loving Father to handle all our situations. Perfectly said akka. I really accept what all you have mentioned.
A wonderful read as always sis.
Well written Sneha. I liked the way you used ‘faith’ to address ‘doubt’ and stated that courage is choosing to act despite fear. To top it all, the love for our Lord which keeps us going.
Well written, Sneha! You are a gifted writer! Keep going! God bless!
I personally think doubt is an outcome of fear . We are living in a world where we can never avoid strangers who may have to be part of our routine .
We have to surrender ourselves in God’s hands and move forward . When ever I feel worried I will hum the song mun sellum um samoogam .
Amen! Indeed our God is in control. Thank you for an insightful description of where our focus has to be and on whom we need to rely on for our courage. Life is a solitary journey .. certainly !
Enjoyed the read. God bless
We’ll written, akka.
From everyday experience to the most important Experience!
I admire your faith and its companion courage that helps you to talk about it so freely and eloquently
Oh! I’m so glad I read an article-No-a mini Masterpiece! Congratulations Sneha. Yahweh has provided me with a timely piece of soul searching through your guest column. Thank you so much!
I’m particularly struck this evening by the phrase:Faith doesn’t mean you won’t have doubts; it means, you choose to act despite them. In challenging times look to God, not the circumstances. Faith has a companion: COURAGE! That which I lack very much at times!
Thank you Sneha for the good food for nourishment!
Now I have a doubt…I doubt if I’ll ever have a doubt!
God bless you!
Great job.
Dear Sneha , Wonderful thoughts ! “Ignorance is bliss “ . Unless we understand the situation , we will not have doubts . Doubt is part & parcel of stairway to enlightenment. Honest ( seeker’s and not arguer’s ) doubts nurture Love , Hope , Faith , Peace….
KEEP IT UP . ❤️
Dear Sneha, Glory to God. So meaningful writings of u. The last two paragraphs r the essence of ur whole thought of this script. That is st. Pauls. and urs… Statements. Mine is… Ofcourse i am the happiest in Him in this world. Thank u for boosting my faith in Him…so i can trust in Him stillmore.God bless U more and more
Loved it sneha ♥️ such a relevant topic – and addressed so simply and beautifully!! ♥️
This blog post beautifully intertwines faith and science, offering a message of hope and encouragement. Your personal reflections, emphasizes the importance of nurturing faith and spreading love, your passion for science and medicine enriches the spiritual narrative, making your perspective both relatable and insightful. This is a thoughtful and inspiring contribution to the blog.
That’s great, Sneha. Your thoughts on a Christian believer having doubts were very comforting. Especially for those in ministry, people often see them as superhuman. It’s important to pray for the strength to overcome doubts in life. I was blessed and I hope many will as well. God bless
Beautifully written article sneha. Yes we do doubt at times. When we keep on looking at the problem, dwelling on it, become soaked and engulfed in it, we lose our peace. When we shift our focus to jesus, we are free, light hearted, built up and have the confidence to move on .
Dear Sneha,
As usual a beautiful message on a generally asked question about doubt that all Christians ask.I am sure doubting Thomas’s would have got the answer from your message.
Keep clearing our doubts.
God bless and love.
Aunty Sujo.
Beautiful Narrative and simple way you have taught the reassurance of the Lord’s promise to us dear Snegs. Reassuring!
Dear Sneha
Your blog about dealing with doubt is interesting. The main takeaway for me are these; we have been given the fruits of the spirit; We have to believe, when we ask God; And thirdly faith is conviction of things not seen;
With these in mind one can patiently manoeuvre the twists and turns in their journey of faith.
Praise God for articles and testimonies like these! They assure and reassure our faith in our sovereign God!
No doubt about your capability too dear Sneha!
Personally very encouraged by this write-up…. thank you dear akka for showing us that doubt is not an emotion to feel guilty about…it is rather an instrument to propel us to seek & trust God amidst the difficult circumstances of life….
Wonderful Sneha _as usual!All of us passes such situations. In spiritual life also we have so many doubts. God will guide us in the right track. The clarification is awesome ‘Doubt your doubts ‘-Those are the very words.
This time, under Sneha’s scanner is the all encompassing and all consuming question of DOUBT. Before you know it her gift of the gab grabs your full attention! Then you get to have a good look into a brief but quite a comprehensive analysis of the topic on hand that reveals a few pros and more cons for comfort but lo and behold, help is found in the Bible for all types and seasons.
Kudos to Sneha for her delightful and lucid style of writing that doesn’t stop at just entertaining but seeks to illuminate and edify❤️
The cool thing, if I may add is that we all can keep growing in our faith. The longer we know him the better we get at it. I think u answered your own question well. Kudos!
I was able to resolve my uncertainty, right, Annan? I appreciate your support. Thank you, Sneha.
Hi Ammu aunty !
Much obliged to receive a well researched feedback from you.
My warmest thanks.
The listicle you’ve created clearly shows the time and energy you put in for me.Grateful.
Living in a world that aims to tear down people more than building them up, to edify becomes priority.
Honestly, your input deserves more merit than the material I created.
Motivated to write better if at all, I am called yet again for another guest column by my blog host The Lion King!!.
Sneha.
‘Doubt your doubts and not your God’ has appealed to you.And I’m so glad to learn about it.Thank you very much dear athai.
Sneha
Absolutely wonderful to hear back from you busy bee. Glad you liked it Suni.
Thanks so much.
Sneha.
Oh wow, Shanthi ka, thank you for your encouragement. I do appreciate it a lot.
Thank you so much.
Sneha.
Hi Suba ka, I can see you’ve perused well and that’s so nice.Thank you for your time and your support always.Take care.
Sneha.
To hear from Ruby is so difficult these days.And so, I should tell you, I’m much obliged!My warmest thanks dear.
Sneha.
Ha, ha, that’s a good one aunty..You just made my day. Grateful for your thoughtful comment.
Sneha.
Absolutely Malathi ka, it’s just Him we have to pursue!!Thank you so much for your detailed feedback.
Sneha.
Dear Sarah aunty,
I am indeed privileged to receive a feedback and thank you so much for the insights you’ve shared.Assuring you of my prayers as you take God’s word around.God bless your ministry.
Sneha.
Dear akka, I consider your input much more superior than the simple thoughts I tried to portray in my own style. I am extremely grateful and encouraged a lot to hear your input. I’m so glad you enjoyed my post.
Sneha
Hey Jay!
Thanks a lot.I’m glad you liked the post and I guess this is the first time you’re reading a blog of mine.Much obliged dear.
Sneha.
My dear Jery ka! What a pleasure to hear back from you! Ever grateful for your blessings.Thanks for taking the time and giving me a detailed feedback as well.
I do appreciate this a lot.
Sneha