Over the past couple of weeks, I have found my mind circling in doubt, “Why am I here?”, “Did God really send me?”, “What is the purpose of my being here?”, “Is my faith enough?”  I have found myself frustrated with these thoughts repeatedly running through my mind. And I have prayed, “God, please take them away, I know the truth!” Yet the doubts lingered, and frustration increased.  

So, as my leader prompted us, I reflected on my “why” - why I said “yes”, why I am here. The Holy Spirit brought me back to the Lord’s call, and that my “yes” was out of obedience. I recalled the peace, the knowing, the encouragement, and the resources the Lord gave me to get here.  

Likewise, I acknowledged the “what”, what God says our purpose is here on earth. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  

In addition, I meditated on the scripture, when Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20).  

These reflections helped, but the doubts continued, and in my moments of begging, God knew my heart. He saw a purpose in allowing me to struggle through the pain. I then realized that, combating these thoughts with the truth God is speaking over me, is still not getting to the root of the doubts. Rather, it is putting a Band-Aid over them. 

Combating doubt with truth is good, but if doubt continues to linger, it may be a sign that God wants to address something deeper in your heart.

Doubt is not a sin or even a sign of failure; rather, it is an opportunity. 

When approached with a heart that desires to grow, through the struggle rather than push away from the struggle, doubt can deepen our relationship with God.  

Therefore, when facing doubt, I have learned a few key things we must remember in order to grow.

For one, we need to view faith as a muscle; to strengthen it, it needs to hurt, and we need to push through the painful periods to get the gains.

If we press in when God tests our faith, we begin to trust our Father more. 

Moreover, we must bring our doubts honestly to Jesus. Lying them before His feet, surrendering to Him, even if that means more pain, so He can reveal their root. Do not allow the enemy to take hold of your doubt and twist it into distance from Christ, and the things you know truly matter. 

The enemy wants us to think we are alone in our doubt, but we are never alone. Isolation is a lie and something a person often chooses. Thinking that no one else has the same struggles is actually deeply rooted in pride.  

To identify the root of your doubt, ask yourself: “What is causing me to doubt?”

For me, doubt often stems from comparison- seeing others succeed and longing for the same. It is not that I am unhappy for them or resentful of how God is moving; rather, I simply desire the same experience. Now, to combat the lies comparison could feed, I must remember, not just how God is moving in my own life, but that what God is doing is far greater than my personal desires. 

Similarly, remember that God is not afraid of your doubts. He is bigger than every question, fear, and insecurity. 

God speaks through Isaiah, saying, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). 

Pressing into doubt is a part of spiritual growth. Wrestling with the questions we have brings us to more intimate solutions or responses. And like weeds, you have to go to the roots to stop the overgrowth. In fact, simply picking them at the stem can cause more nuisance.  

Jacob, in Genesis 32, is a great example of the transformation that follows wrestling with God. It isn’t something to avoid, but rather something to endure.  

Doubt doesn’t mean you’ve failed in faith. It doesn’t even mean you have sinned. It means you’re human. We must lean on God, through all things, but especially when we are weak and when we doubt.

David testifies, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4). 

When surrendered to God, doubt becomes a doorway to growth. Rather than running from it, we can let doubt press us closer to Him, shaping a faith that is stronger, deeper, and more dependent on His grace.