Is God Really There? When Christians Struggle With Doubt

What Happens When You Start Questioning Your Faith?

I’ve been struggling with something lately that isn’t always easy to admit as a Christian. I’ve been doubting God. Not just questioning why certain things happen or wondering why He hasn’t answered a particular prayer. I’ve actually found myself questioning whether He exists at all.

And honestly, that is a difficult thing to say out loud when you’re a Christian.

We’re often taught that faith means believing without question, trusting without hesitation, and never allowing doubt to creep in. But what happens when you do doubt? What happens when you pray and wonder if anyone is listening? When you read your Bible and struggle to feel connected to the words? When you look around and wonder if God is really there?

The truth is that Christians struggle with doubt, too. Having questions doesn’t automatically mean you’ve lost your faith. Sometimes our faith is tested in ways we never expected, and sometimes we find ourselves in seasons where believing feels harder than ever.

A Friend Reminded Me of the Story of Doubting Thomas

Recently, my spiritual mom reminded me of a story in the Bible about Thomas, often referred to as “Doubting Thomas.” We were talking about faith and the struggles that can come with believing, and my spiritual mom brought up how even one of Jesus’ own disciples struggled with doubt.

That conversation will stay with me, and I think this story is going to serve as an important reminder for me during this season of uncertainty. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we’re not the first Christians to struggle with questions, uncertainty, or even disbelief.

After Jesus was resurrected, Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples. When they told him they had seen the Lord, Thomas struggled to believe them. He wanted proof. He wanted to see the wounds for himself before he could believe that Jesus was alive.

In John 20:27-29 (NLT), Jesus appears to Thomas and invites him to see His wounds. He doesn’t turn Thomas away for questioning. Instead, He meets him right where he is.

I am finding comfort in that story because Thomas wasn’t pretending. He was honest about what he struggled to believe. And Jesus didn’t abandon him because of it.

That reminds me that God already knows our questions. We don’t have to hide them or pretend they’re not there.

What Do We Do When We Start Doubting God?

I don’t think overcoming doubt means forcing ourselves to believe something we are struggling with. I think it starts with being honest.

1. Be honest with God.

Even if your prayer is, “God, I’m not sure I believe You’re there anymore,” say it. You don’t need perfectly written prayers or the “right” words. Tell Him what you’re thinking and feeling. If we’re going to have a relationship with God, shouldn’t we be able to bring Him our doubts, too?

2. Remember that doubt doesn’t make you a bad Christian.

You can love God and still have questions. You can have years of faith behind you and still experience a season when everything feels uncertain. Don’t allow shame to make an already difficult season even harder.

3. Keep seeking, even when you don’t feel anything.

Read Scripture, pray when you can, and give yourself opportunities to explore your questions. You don’t have to force an emotional connection every time you open your Bible. Sometimes continuing to seek is all you can manage.

4. Give yourself grace.

Faith isn’t always a straight line. There may be days when you feel close to God and other days when you wonder if He’s there at all. Don’t measure your entire spiritual journey by how you “feel” today.

It’s Okay to Not Have All the Answers

I’m writing this because I know I’m probably not the only Christian who has ever felt this way. Maybe you’re sitting somewhere right now wondering if God is real. Maybe you’ve prayed for something for so long that you’ve started questioning whether anyone is listening. Maybe life has been so difficult that believing has become exhausting.

I don’t have all the answers right now. I’m not going to pretend that I do. I’m still working through my own questions, and I’m trying to understand what faith looks like when I’m struggling to believe.

But maybe that’s where we start. Not with pretending, not with guilt, and not with forcing ourselves to have all the answers. Just with honesty.

Mark 9:24 (NLT) contains a prayer from a father who desperately wanted Jesus to help his son. He cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

I love that verse because it acknowledges something we don’t always want to admit: sometimes belief and unbelief exist in the same heart.

Maybe that’s the prayer I need right now. Maybe it’s the prayer you need, too.

God, if You’re there, help me find You. Help me through the questions, the uncertainty, and the doubts. I’m struggling, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise. Help me find my way back to faith. Amen.

If you’re one of the Christians who struggle with doubt, remember that questioning your faith doesn’t mean you have to give up seeking God. I want you to know that you’re not alone. You don’t have to have perfect faith to be honest about where you are. Keep asking questions. Keep seeking truth. And give yourself permission to be human while you figure it out.

Many Blessings,

Lisa Marie