What is the difference between doubt and unbelief?
If you have ever struggled a bit in your Christian experience, perhaps doubted the Lord, or the scriptures, or the purposes and promises of God in situations or trials. You may rest assured that you are not alone! You probably have not lost your faith. You probably are not necessarily even living in sin (unless you linger in doubt and the father of lies turns it to unbelief).
You see, doubt is not the absence of faith. Doubt is the questioning of faith in the midst of things that don’t always seem to make sense to us.
Somewhere I read: “Some things God has revealed, making faith possible. Some things God has not revealed, but has kept secret, making faith necessary.”
I have shared many times that faith is not initiated in us. It is not a matter of our “hard believing”. No matter how we bear down and push we cannot produce faith in the face of some challenges or crises. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
[Romans 10:17 NASB95] 17 So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
The “word” (rhema) here is the now spoken word or revelation. If God has revealed/spoken there is faith. If He hasn’t there isn’t.
This begs the question “How does God speak?”. But that is not the topic at hand at the moment, so let us leave that for another time accepting that He does speak, and can in a number of ways,
Faith for the believer comes from understanding what He has spoken/revealed, and being able to say with confidence that He has revealed it. But, having faith is also knowing that there are things we do not know, understand, or do not have answers for because He has not chosen to reveal them. He has kept them hidden for His purpose and our good. Paul addresses this in 1st Corinthians 13.
[1Corinthans 13:12 NASB95] 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
To see in a mirror “dimly” is literally “in a riddle” like an enigma. We know in part at times, and full revelation is yet to come. But we can always trust that a full revelation is coming. And, as we walk in what we do know, we will see the fulfillment of all that He has promised, purposed and revealed.
I am often asked by unbelievers/seekers (and sometimes by believers as well) about evil and suffering: “Why? (do they exist, are allowed) How can you explain it” Sometimes the Spirit may give me an eloquent explanation in deep theology. But, more times than not it will come down to very practically saying “I don’t have all the answers, nor understand all myself”. But then saying something along the lines of “He is God and I’m not! I trust in a God Who is omniscient and omnipotent, Who knows the end from the beginning and Who is not making up things as He goes. I know He is doing that which is right. And that is enough.”
I don’t have to have all the answers. You see, faith does not depend on having all the answers. Faith depends on knowing He Who does. If I had all the answers I would not need faith. If I did not need faith, I would not need to hear Him. As Paul said “I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.” He will reveal all in His time and purpose.
A few mysteries keep me turning to Him for answers, revelation. Thirsting and hungering for righteousness and hearing His voice and the fullness and satisfaction that only comes from feeding on the bread of life that is His word keep me coming to the intimacy of His table.
Doubt, it seems to me, is something all believers deal, perhaps struggle, with at times. In fact it may be said that doubt is a sign of faith. As I mentioned, doubt is not the absence of faith. It is quite simply the questioning, at times, of what you believe; what you think has been revealed to you. It might be said that you can’t doubt what you don’t believe; you can only doubt if you have belief. This is why I think all believers may face it at times.
This also points out the difference between doubt and unbelief. While doubt is sometimes the rational questioning of what we believe when we are faced with the “Why’s” of circumstances or suffering or disappointment… or…. or….whatever. Unbelief, is the refusal to believe what has been revealed. By far and in large part doubt is only in the purview of the believer. Unbelief, is the sole purview of the unbeliever. Again, because you have to have belief, or faith, to doubt. If you don’t have belief or faith, you can’t doubt it.
In John 20 after the resurrection Jesus appears to the disciples speaking to them of peace, revealing to them the Holy Spirit, and revealing their authority to bring forgiveness of sin to others. Thomas was not with them for this appearance and later has an encounter with Jesus regarding doubt and unbelief.
[John 20:24-29 NASB95] 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace [be] with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed [are] they who did not see, and [yet] believed.“
Upon his companions and fellow disciples report that they had seen and encountered the Lord. Thomas’ response is unless I can touch Him “I will not believe.” Was this doubt or unbelief? I am persuaded that Thomas exhibited doubt. He knew Jesus. He knew and believed much regarding Him from having walked with Him. However a man coming back from the dead was cause for doubting all that He knew. This thinking inspired in part because Thomas had obviously seen the damage done to Jesus at the cross, because He refers to having to touch the wounds he saw Him suffer there in order to believe their good news and report.
Jesus then reappears more than a week later and reveals Himself personally to Thomas, according to his conditions, and tells Him “do not be unbelieving, but believing,” He allays all of Thomas’ doubt(s) and his response is “My Lord and my God”. A proclamation that would have been blasphemous worship among Jews of the day as he makes Jesus deity worthy of worship by it.
Jesus makes a point here regarding the revelation of God concerning Him : “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed [are] they who did not see, and [yet] believed.“ Again, God can reveal/speak in many ways. Most of us have not seen Him and have yet believed. Our belief is initiated primarily from God speaking/revealing Himself, and the fullness of His love in Jesus, through a report/testimony/preaching regarding Christ. Thomas required a more personal revelation to overcome doubt, as He already personally knew Jesus and walked with Him. I won’t make great application here to the difference of dealing with doubt in the believer, and drawing the unbeliever out of unbelief, but you can draw much out of this example.
It seems that this seeing and worshiping, and dealing with doubt, may be a common experience for believers. Consider Matthew 28 just before Jesus is gave the great commission and was about to leave them we read
[Matthew 28:17 NASB95] 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped [Him;] but some were doubtful.
Occasional doubt among believers is not disqualifying! Doubt is struggling, at times, with what you believe, generally in the midst of what is happening that may not seem right or is confusing to you.
It is far different than the obstinate and determined refusal to believe, that which has been revealed or spoken, by unbelievers.
[Psalm 14:1 NASB95] 1 For the choir director. [A Psalm] of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.
My understanding is that “There is no God” here can be translated as “No God”. That is the place of unbelief. He has revealed Himself, He has spoken, yet the fool says No! God!
I pray this look at doubt and unbelief will be helpful in understanding that to struggle with doubt sometimes, particularly when what life throws at you, or your loved ones/children, at times is not uncommon. Nor is it somehow disqualifying. No! May it drive (maybe too strong a word)….May it inspire…. you to seek Him and His voice, and to trust His purpose and promise.
Do note that when Jesus dealt with Thomas personally He spoke to him “DO NOT BE UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING”, and it brought out worship from Thomas. So, do not linger in doubt. Hear His voice, see His revelation to you. And worship your Lord and your God. Resurrection power, life out of death, healing of wounds are all possible. Receive no lies from the enemy. Receive the good news and encouragement of other disciples. God often speaks through them.
He is faithful! He cannot be unfaithful. He cannot lie. What He has spoken He will bring to pass.
[Numbers 23:19 NASB95] 19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
[Jude 1:20-25 NASB95] 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, [be] glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.