What To Do When You Start Doubting God

Maddie Perron, MS, RDN, LDN, CLC, CPT
35 minutes ago
5 min read

Whether you’re currently wrestling with doubt or you simply want to strengthen the foundations of your faith, every Christian will experience seasons where your faith is tested…

When God tells you to do something, does it ever seem to make no sense? At this point, I wake up and think, "God, what new unrealistic thing are You going to ask me to do today?!" But somehow, when it makes no sense, I have such faith that God is going to do something miraculous.

I believe the most difficult part of being patient and not wavering through doubt after you take that step of faith is the voice of others… I know because I’ve experienced this over the past several months.

When Doubt Tries To Be Louder Than God’s Calling For Me

God shifted my career in another direction, calling me to build more of a digital ministry than anything else. Following that calling has meant sacrificing paychecks, but I believe He knew we would be okay even if I wasn’t contributing financially to our budget right now. I believe that’s part of why He called me into this season.

Of course, I want and need to contribute financially in the future, especially as we build our family. But for right now, I know that God has me exactly where He wants me and that He will provide for us as I follow where He’s leading me.

But what’s been a stumbling block for me is the voices around me: “When are you going to make money? “You’re not even using what you went to school for” “How long are you going to do social media for before you start looking for a job?”

This is what leads me to question God— “When am I going to make money?” “I’m doing all of this hard work but am I even helping people?” “Is all of my work for nothing?” “Why is my account barely growing?” I mean… the questions and doubts start rolling and it’s truly a stumbling block for me.

What To Do When You Start Doubting God

BUT this is such a good reminder for us:

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised’” (Romans 4:18-21).

Wow, we need to break that down together. What should we do when we doubt God? Here are a few points that stand out to me:

In hope he believed and so became.

Abraham became who God called him to be because of his hope and belief in what God promised to him. Did he ask God questions during this time? When we refer to Genesis, yes. But he still did what God told him to do.

He faced the fact that his body was as good as dead.

He had to face his circumstance that felt dead in order to be strengthened in his faith. I mean… he was about a hundred years old. It most definitely feels impossible for him to have a child at that age—BUT GOD.

We have to face the situation that feels impossible in order to encounter the life-giving power of God. The “sunshine and rainbows” of life shouldn’t be when everything's going well—it should be when we have the opportunity to encounter God doing His miraculous work.

He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God.

Despite facing the impossible situation, he believed that the Lord would do what He said. James 1:6-8, James explains how to ask God for wisdom:

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (James 1:6-8).

OOOOF, did you feel convicted there? I know I’ve definitely been like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

He was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. He was fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.

Being put in this situation strengthened Abraham's faith. Isn’t that what we’re all striving for? That our faith would be strengthened so we could endure and be closer to Jesus?

Then why is it that when God allows the trial, we ask Him to deliver us from it?? This is the very place we need to be for our faith to strengthen. Think about strength training—you’ve got to pick up the weights for multiple reps and sets consistently over time in order to increase strength. You can’t just walk into the gym and run out because you’re intimidated by the weights!! But that’s what we often do when it comes to trials in life…

A cozy aesthetic journal and coffee during autumn

Action Steps To Strengthen Your Faith and Overcome Doubt

Prayer: Give God your honest thoughts and feelings about where you’re currently at. Tell Him, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) That’s such a powerful prayer for this time.
Consistency and Intentionality In God’s Word: Be in His word every single day and be very intentional during this time. If that means you need to wake up earlier, then do that. Schedule this so you have plenty of uninterrupted time. I’ve noticed when I wake up later I feel rushed during my time with God.
Get In The Game: Don’t just read the Word, but carry it out. You have to be put in the situation (as Abraham was) in order for your faith to be strengthened. I’ve noticed that I can be so rooted in God’s Word, but when the battle comes, I begin to break down. But action step number four is the solution to that…
Consider It Pure Joy: When God allows this trial to come, consider it a blessing. It’s a blessing because this is the very place you encounter the living, breathing, powerful work of God. He’s at work in you more than ever—ask Him to open your eyes to this.

If you want to pursue putting your faith in action through weekly rhythms, you can learn more here about my faith-based program: "Faith in Action: Becoming More Like Jesus".

Faith In Action

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