Turn To God When You Have Doubts

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Have you ever been approached by someone who asks if you believe in the afterlife, or about your faith in general? How do you respond? Many of us are familiar with the common saying that it's better to believe and be wrong than not to believe at all, but as Catholics, our assurance is founded on the very person of Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks profoundly about faith, and Jesus confronted the issue of belief head-on in the post-resurrection account with Thomas. When Thomas, having been absent, declared he wouldn't believe unless he saw and touched Christ's wounds, Jesus appeared and invited him to do just that, before stating, "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (John 20:29). This incident speaks directly to the necessity of maintaining our faith even amidst our doubts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) reminds us that "Faith is a personal adherence of man to God; at the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed" (CCC 150). It's human to have questions, but we must distinguish between doubt—a temporary struggle—and unbelief, which is a "disregard of revealed truth" (CCC 2089).

The opposite of faith isn't doubt; it's unbelief. Jesus demonstrated compassion for this human struggle in Mark 9:22-24 when he encountered a man who held both faith and doubt, yet Jesus did not condemn him, instead performing a miracle for his son. It's a natural human condition to experience moments of doubt, but we are called to work to overcome it. We must seek to identify its root, which often involves deepening our relationship with God and exploring our understanding of what being a Christian truly means. Christianity isn't a magical shield from suffering; rather, it's the confidence that we should turn to God in all circumstances, knowing "He will lead us down the right path." Critically, we should not internalize our doubts. The CCC teaches that the transmission of faith happens through the Church: "Believing is an ecclesial act. The Church's faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes our faith" (CCC 168). Seek guidance from those within the Church community: speak to your priest, spiritual advisor, family, or a trusted Christian friend. The Apostles turned to Jesus for guidance when they had doubts; that remains our example today.

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