What Jesus said about
Doubt
I believe. Help my unbelief!
Mark 9:24
The short answer
Doubt is normal. People who walked with Jesus doubted, and he did not send them away.
Faith is not the same as feeling sure. It is holding on to a promise. On the days a person can’t hold on, the promise still holds on to them.
In the Gospels
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Mark 9:17–24
A father who half-believes
A man brings his sick son to Jesus and asks for help “if you can.” When Jesus answers, the father admits both at once: he believes, and he needs help believing.
Read Mark 9:17–24
17 One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; 18 and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.” 19 He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth. 21 He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?” He said, “From childhood. 22 Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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Matthew 14:28–31
Peter on the water
Peter steps out of the boat toward Jesus, sees the wind, and begins to sink. Jesus reaches out and catches him before he asks the question.
Read Matthew 14:28–31
28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 29 He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
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John 20:24–29
Thomas
Thomas says he will not believe until he sees the wounds himself. A week later Jesus comes back, for him, and offers exactly that.
Read John 20:24–29
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
How Lutherans read this
Lutherans teach that faith is a gift God gives through his word and the sacraments, not a feeling a person has to produce. That is why a doubting Christian is pointed back to their baptism: a promise made to them by name, which stays true when they cannot feel it.
A question to take with you
In each of these scenes, who moves toward whom?
Hear a pastor on this
Further reading from the Lutheran tradition: 9 works in the library.