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Struggling to Believe: Faith in the Midst of Doubt

Struggling with belief, often characterized as doubt, is a recurring theme in biblical narratives and theological discourse. The term "doubt" itself can encompass various experiences, from intellectual perplexity to a wavering of trust. For instance, the name "Zer" means "perplexity" [6], and "Babel" signifies "confusion" or "mixture" [5]. The Psalmist expresses this internal struggle, noting, "When I thought about how to understand this, it was troubling in my eyes" (Psalm 73:16 LEB) [3].

Unbelief is identified as sin in John 16:9 and is described as proceeding from an evil heart, slowness of heart, hardness of heart, and a disinclination to truth [9]. It can also stem from judicial blindness, not being Christ's sheep, the devil blinding the mind, or seeking honor from men [9]. The Bible warns against those who doubt, stating, "See, you doubters, have wonder and come to your end; for I will do a thing in your days to which you will not give belief, even if it is made clear to you" (Acts 13:41 BBE) [1].

Faith, in contrast, is generally understood as the persuasion of the mind that a statement is true, with its primary idea being trust [8]. It involves assent and is the result of teaching (Romans 10:14-17) [8]. Knowledge is an essential element of faith, sometimes even spoken of as an equivalent (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3) [8]. However, faith goes beyond mere knowledge by including an act of assent [8]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown describe faith as a "working reality," not merely an "otiose assent," but one that manifests itself through its fruits and continuous work [10]. This "work of faith" implies its full development [10].

Even those with faith can experience periods of intense doubt. The apostle Peter, despite his declaration of belief in Christ, faced moments where his faith was "tried to the utmost," particularly by "speculative difficulties" [13]. During such times, "the spiritual eye then swims, and all truth seems ready to depart" [13]. However, Peter's response to Jesus's challenging teachings, "And we believe," served not only as an assurance to Christ but also as a means of fortifying himself and his brethren against the difficulty [13].

Despair, a more extreme form of doubt, can be produced in the wicked by divine judgments and can lead to continuing in sin and blasphemy [7]. However, saints are sometimes tempted to despair but are enabled to overcome it through trust in God (Psalm 42:5, 11; 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9) [7]. Biblical examples of despair include Cain, Ahithophel, and Judas [7].

The concept of "mystery" in the New Testament relates to truths that were once hidden but are now revealed, which can be challenging for finite intelligence to fully grasp [4]. For example, the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church (Ephesians 1:9, 10; 3:8-11; Colossians 1:25-27) and the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51) are described as mysteries [4]. The union between Christ and his people, symbolized by the marriage union, is also called a "great mystery" (Ephesians 5:31, 32) [2, 4]. These mysteries require explanation but cannot be entirely understood by human reason alone [4].

The work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17) [12]. This suggests that a life lived in accordance with God's will can lead to internal and external peace, which can be a bulwark against doubt and despair [12]. The hope in Christ, which Jewish Christians had before his coming, is also a significant aspect of faith, looking forward to the "consolation of Israel" [11].

Sources

  1. Acts “Acts 13:41 (BBE) — See, you doubters, have wonder and come to your end; for I will do a thing in your days to which you will not give belief, even if it is made clear to you.”
  2. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:32 (Webster) — This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
  3. Psalms “Psalms 73:16 (LEB) — When I thought about how to understand this, it was troubling in my eyes”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mystery — The calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8-11; Col. 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union (Eph. 5:31, 32; comp. 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet”
  5. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Babel — confusion; mixture”
  6. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Zer — perplexity”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Despair — Produced in the wicked by divine judgments -- De 28:34,67; Re 9:6; 16:10. Leads to Continuing in sin. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Blasphemy. -- Isa 8:21; Re 16:10,11. Shall seize upon the wicked at the appearing of Christ -- Re 6:16. Saints sometimes tempted to -- Job 7:6; La 3:18. Saints enabled to overcome -- 2Co 4:8,9. Trust in God, a preservative against -- Ps 42:5,11. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:13,14. Ahithophel. -- 2Sa 17:23. Judas. -- Mt 27:5.”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Faith — Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act ”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Unbelief — Is sin -- Joh 16:9. Defilement inseparable from -- Tit 1:15. All, by nature, concluded in -- Ro 11:32. Proceeds from An evil heart. -- Heb 3:12. Slowness of heart. -- Lu 24:25. Hardness of heart. -- Mr 16:14; Ac 19:9. Disinclination to the truth. -- Joh 8:45,46. Judicial blindness. -- Joh 12:39,40. Not being Christ's sheep. -- Joh 10:26. The devil blinding the mind. -- 2Co 4:4. The devil taking away the word out of the heart. -- Lu 8:12. Seeking honour from men. -- Joh 5:44. Impugns the veracity of God -- 1Jo 5:10. Exhibited in Rejecting Christ. -- Joh 16:”
  10. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
  11. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:12: (Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.”
  12. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 32:17: work--the effect (Pro 14:34; Jam 3:18). peace--internal and external.”
  13. John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 6:69: And we believe,--(See on Mat 16:16). Peter seems to have added this not merely--probably not so much--as an assurance to his Lord of his heart's belief in Him, as for the purpose of fortifying himself and his faithful brethren against that recoil from his Lord's harsh statements which he was probably struggling against with difficulty at that moment. Note.--There are seasons when one's faith is tried to the utmost, particularly by speculative difficulties; the spiritual eye then swims, and all truth seems ready to depart from us. At such seasons, a clear”
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