Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak, and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid, and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so… Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” —Mark 9:17-18, 21-24

Introduction

Sometimes we assign

to Jesus for something he did not say.

Did Jesus say, “Everything happens for a

?”

We all have things we believe, tell others, and count on that we’ve not carefully

.

“Don’t be afraid, just

!”

“When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to men.” —John Wesley (1703-1791)

When our beliefs are

, we can become defensive, offended, combative, or withdrawn.

“We’re conditioned to believe that doubts are somehow a violation of our faith.” —Rev. Paul Rasmussen

We may fear that if

belief turns out not to be true that

Reveal Answer

of them are true.

Do you ever wrestle with doubt? (John 8:36)

Everyone, including the

and the most famous Christians, has doubt.

Why do we doubt?

We doubt because God doesn’t do what

would do or want. We ask but have an end in mind.

We doubt because we tried

stuff, and it didn’t work.

We doubt because we are surrounded by people who doubt and don’t

at all.

We doubt because God speaks a word we

or is different than what we expect.

We doublt because life is

.

What the Bible Says About Doubt

Doubt doesn’t

you from being blessed. (Mark 9:17-20)

Why is

exasperated? (Mark 9:2-4, 7-9)

The father’s doubt is caused by the disciples’

to heal his son and the dispute that followed.

It’s worth noting that the disciples were attempting an exorcism they had not been

to do.

Doubt and being doubted are

throughout the scriptures. (Luke 24:1-5, 9-11)

On Easter evening

disciples are surprised and sent by Jesus. (John 20:19-21)

Thomas missed the meeting and simply wants what the others

. (John 20:24-25)

Jesus meets us in our doubts, knows our need, and is

to help. (John 20:26-29)

Faith is not the

of doubt. (Matthew 28:16-17)

In the great commission, Jesus sends doubters to make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:17-20)

Faith is moving

with what God is calling you into even in the midst of your doubts.

“Jesus never demands we believe perfectly so he can get to work.” —Rev. Paul Rasmussen

God is at

in the midst of our doubt.

Don’t let doubt be a

.

Can Doubting Be Good?

Is it shameful for a woman to

in church? (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

In first century

, a man dishonors Christ by worshiping with his head covered; a woman dishonors both her husband and Christ by worshiping without a head covering. (1 Corinthians 11:5-6)

Does God want people to

and beat other people? (Luke 12:47)

Even the best biblical scholars

at times on the right English word to convey the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek text.

Action Steps

Be

about your doubt and share it with Jesus and one other safe person.

Act on the faith you do have and

on the faith that you don’t have.

My additional notes:

.