The Triumph of Doubt

One thing I love about the Bible is the way it speaks to people like me. An example is found in Mark 9:23, 24. Jesus had just returned from the mountain top with Peter, James and John where He had met with Moses and Elijah. At the foot of the mountain He found the rest of His disciples arguing with the teachers of religious law, the two groups surrounded by a large crowd.

At issue was the inability of the disciples to cast an evil spirit out of a boy. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and demanded the boy be brought to Him.

‘How long has this been going on’ asked Jesus? ‘Since he was little’ replied his father.

‘“The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can"’ pleaded the father.

‘"What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes."’

‘The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"’

With that, Jesus commanded the spirit to leave the boy and he was healed.

While we may speak of ‘strong faith’ I wonder if any of us really have it. Even Abraham, the Father of the faithful struggled. We quote that famous verse from Gen. 15:6, ‘And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.’

But two verses later we read ‘But Abram replied, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I be sure that you will give it to me?"’ (v.8) And as we continue on with Abraham’s story we find he continues to stumble.

If it relied on strong faith or unwavering faith there would be no hope. But the good news is that it doesn't. The father's faith was tentative yet desperate. He acknowledged his doubt. Abraham believed, yet he sought reassurance. His example is held up as one of a life of faith. Doubt is human, a natural and I believe essential part of faith. Just as courage is not the absence of fear but the overcoming of it, so faith is the overcoming of doubt.

So I can live with my doubts, my failures, knowing I share these traits with the heroes of faith whose stories are found in the Bible. Failure and doubt don’t of themselves condemn me, for I can confess them and ask Jesus for the help I need to continue in the life of faith.

Bible quotes from the New Living Translation.