Do Godly Christians Have Times Of Doubt?

I came home to sadness from my first year at a Christian college. My Grandma (Mother’s mother) was on her deathbed in the hospital. When I visited her, she could barely carry on a conversation. I did learn that she had doubts about her salvation. How could that be? She was the one who taught my mother about the things of God and encouraged her in the Christian life. She had talked to me about my salvation and the things of God. She had hoped the Lord would come back in her lifetime. How could someone like her have doubts as she approached death?

Many years later, my mother, a godly woman, was on her deathbed. She had so hoped that the Lord would come back before she died. But He didn’t. And she was disappointed.

Can godly Christian men and women have significant doubts during times of trial?

Let’s look at some examples in the Bible.

Perhaps John the Baptist is the most outstanding example. He was the cousin of Jesus. John had preached repentance, and many had been converted. He baptized Jesus. Due to his cruel character, King Herod put John in prison and later commanded his soldiers to behead John. While in prison, John sent this heartbreaking message to Jesus. “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. (Luke 7:19-23).

How could John ever have come to this place of doubt? After Jesus gave John’s messengers the above words, he said about John, “Among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” (Luke 9:28).

Then there was Elijah. He had a marvelous victory over Baal and his false prophets, calling down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice he had prepared. (1 Kings 18). Then, under threat of death from the wicked Queen Jezebel, he fled to the wilderness near Beersheba and requested of the Lord that he might die. (1 Kings 19).

And then there was Abraham, who, in a time of faltering faith during a famine, fled to Egypt. (Genesis 12).

Paul even talked about despairing of life in 2 Corinthians 1:8.

If John the Baptist, Elijah, Abraham, and Paul could have moments of despair, doubt, and faltering faith, couldn’t we have the same problem?

Have you ever noticed a person suffering greatly from a sickness, injury, or calamity does not talk or think the same way as when well? When we are suffering and in despair, we are not always at our peak spiritually. Consider some of Job’s comments when he was in the depths physically and emotionally. God had described Job saying, “There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.”  (Job 1:8). Yet Job later said, “My soul is weary of my life.”  (Job 10:1).

But there is an answer to this problem.

When John’s messengers came to Jesus, He didn’t answer them with a direct “yes” or “no.”  While they watched Jesus, they saw that he healed many people and performed miracles that had been prophesied of him in the Old Testament. Then he told the messengers to return to John and report what they had just seen and heard. Jesus had fulfilled the Scriptures before their eyes. They now had seen evidence from Scripture and experience that Jesus was the Messiah.

God spoke to Elijah in his time of self-pity and informed him that he was not the only one standing for God. Then he re-commissioned Elijah and sent him to do the Lord’s will and plan. (1 Kings 19).

God showed Job precisely who He was, and that answered all of Job’s doubts. (Job 38-42)

Abraham, in his backsliding, was rebuked by the ungodly Egyptian Pharaoh and was sent back to the place of God’s blessing. (Genesis 12).

In his weakness and many trials, Paul recovered from his trials as the Lord taught him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We all have our trials and weak times, even if we are mature Christians. There are promises of victory after our “down” times.

John the Baptist had to see Jesus in action (and receive a report of Jesus in action) and then know from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

Elijah had to be reminded that God is still God regardless of Jezebel’s threats. God reminded him that other believers were also standing for the Lord. Then, God instructed him to get up and do the Lord’s work.

Job had to learn who God actually is. Don’t we all need that?

Paul, with all his education and fine background, had to learn that it was not his excellent education that produced miraculous results. It was God’s grace and God working through him that produced results.

So, beloved Christian! In your times of doubt, despair, self-pity, physical suffering, mockery from non-Christians, or persecution, Look Up! Get into the Word of God. Study it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Apply it in your life. Rely on the absolute truth of the eternal Word of God. Recognize that other Christians are going through the same trials as you. (1 Peter 5:9) “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8).

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).