What the Bible Says About Doubt

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." The most honest prayer in the gospels.

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And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Peter sinking. Jesus catches him — then asks "wherefore didst thou doubt?" — but the catching came first.

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But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Ask in faith, nothing wavering. The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

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Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Thomas' doubt is famous, but Jesus invites him to touch the wounds. He meets the doubter where he is.

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And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Have compassion on those who doubt. Even the church is told to be gentle with doubters.

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How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

"How long, O LORD?" David doubts loudly — and the same psalm ends with "I will sing unto the LORD."

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