How can I stop doubting Jesus?

Answer

When we experience doubt, there is a feeling of uncertainty, not knowing if something is true or false. The Bible compares this mindset to “double-mindedness” (James 1:6-8). Having a double-minded approach leads to constantly changing beliefs, never reaching a firm conviction. A mind that doubts Jesus and His teachings continuously will never find peace because, like a ship in a storm, it is tossed back and forth without hope of rest.

Doubting Jesus and faith are in direct conflict. Hebrews 11:1 declares, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” When Christians possess a strong faith, they have “assurance” and “conviction.” They are confident in the object of their faith, even without physical evidence.

Jesus stated that all believers must become “like children” to enter the kingdom of heaven «and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. », (Matthew 18:3). Childlike faith differs from doubtful faith as children are trusting and open to receiving without doubt or fear. When a parent makes a promise, a child naturally believes. The child does not question whether the parent will fulfill the promise (unless the parent has a history of dishonesty or unreliability). Even when parents share fantastical stories like those of the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny, how readily a child believes! Perhaps the child’s faith is partly fueled by a desire to believe in such magical things, but primarily it is due to the child’s inherent trust in the parent. When a child goes to bed, they do not worry or become anxious about what the next day holds;His sleep is sound and deep. Jesus wants us to trust Him with the heart of a child and without the skepticism of an adult.

So how does a Christian become childlike in faith and stop doubting Jesus? First of all, by remembering God is our Heavenly Father (John 1:12; Romans 8:15). God wants to be known to His children as a loving, compassionate, ever-present, never-wavering parent “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”, (1 John 3:1). The Bible calls believers God’s “sons” (meaning daughters also) numerous times (e.g., Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:7). If Christians know they are children of God, having been adopted into His family, it ought to help them gain the childlike faith Jesus spoke of. Our Father in heaven desires to “give good things to those who ask him!” “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”, (Matthew 7:11). The best thing to know about God as Father is that He is perfect, with none of the sinful shortcomings that accompany human parenthood. All of God’s attributes are perfect, and, even when He disciplines His children, it’s because He loves them (Hebrews 12:6-8).

Second, consider who Jesus is: the express revelation of God Himself (Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9-11). “Do not let your hearts beTroubled. “You believe in God; believe also in me,” Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1). Jesus’ trustworthiness was validated by the testimony of the Father, “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.” (John 8:18) and confirmed by the miracles He did, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” (John 14:11).

Third, in order to stop doubting Jesus, a Christian must constantly recall the cross, “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). When a believer meditates on what Christ did as our Redeemer, he will see how deep and strong Jesus’ love is for His sheep (John 10:11; Ephesians 3:17-19). If Jesus was willing to go to the cross and die a horrible death on our behalf, would He withhold anything else that would be good for us? See Psalm 84:11.

The natural mind tends to doubt, fear, and question what the Bible says rather than simply believe. To overcome doubt, a Christian should continually seek God through Bible study and prayer. He should commit to a local body of believers to be fed by biblical preaching and have fellowship with like-minded believers. In this way, the doubtful mind can and will become increasingly stable, Jesus-focused, and able to find peace, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed.”

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee., (Isaiah 26:3).