Doubt is a foot poised to go forwards or backwards in faith. Therefore, we can never go forward without first picking up the foot. So take a look at your doubts, but stare into the face of God, realize His power, and grasp the greatness of His faithfulness. Ask questions, but leave room for God to demonstrate His power and wisdom in the answers He will give in His time. Allow your humble doubts to lead to deep faith.
Open: Describe a time when doubt over a situation was overcome with God’s wisdom:
Read: James 1:5-8; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 9:14-29; John 6:60-71
Discuss:
1. When in your life have you struggled with doubts about Christianity? What was the cause of these doubts? Why is doubt and faith held in tension? In what ways are faith and doubt companions? How do you see this in your journey with Christ? Can you doubt Jesus and doubt at the same time? Why or why not? How does this reality challenge your understanding of the relationship between faith and doubt? In what ways do you find it freeing?
2. How does James contrast wisdom and doubt? How can wisdom be understood as an answer to our doubt?
3. In what ways do we seek answers to our doubts outside of God? How does taking our doubts to God help us overcome doubt and grow our faith?
4. Doubts can be dangerous if we handle them in the wrong way. Giving into our doubts often leads to bad decisions. Talk about a decision that you made when you doubted God and went your own way. What were the results? Doubts can also be dangerous if you ignore them. Do you presently have any doubts that you haven’t voiced? Doubts can be healthy, if we handle them in the right way. Have you ever wrestled through your doubts and as a result, you gained greater insight into God or greater intimacy in your relationship with Him?
Pray: Pray for God’s wisdom over the area of your doubts.
Memorize/Meditate: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; James 1:6-7
