Doubt, Faith, and the Compass of the Soul

The following is a transcript from an episode of the All Saints Podcast, titled "Is Doubt Ok?" You can listen to the full episode here.

Introduction: Finding Stability in Skepticism
Hello, and welcome to All Saints. We are looking today at the book of John, chapter 20, specifically the resurrection story of Jesus. I think the thing that's really important here is how doubt lived in the minds of those wondering what was going on.

The disciples had just been with Jesus; he had been crucified, and they were hiding. Then there is Mary, who sees Jesus after his resurrection, and all of her doubts are scattered. In an age of skepticism and the questioning of what is true, we need something we can rely on for stability and security.

“Belief is everything. Jesus had made belief and doubt matters of philosophical and religious importance by challenging people to believe by fiat, to have faith.” — Jennifer Hecht, Doubt

Is it intellectual suicide to believe purely on divine authority? Or is that the very essence of faith in God? I want to propose that doubt can serve us well, or it can paralyze us. As we mature, we can lean into our doubts as part of our faith journey and deal with them confidently.

Unmasking the "Faith System" of Doubt
Behind every doorway of understanding lies a common element: doubt and belief. As a Christ-follower, there is a constant tension. There are periods when you are full of joy, hope, and confidence—then the storms happen. You begin to lose hope. You begin to doubt. But we have to understand that every doubt is actually a faith system. It’s not "supernaturalism versus naturalism"; it’s faith versus faith, belief versus belief. Everyone, whether you believe in God or not, is a person of faith. Don't just take your doubts at face value. Unmask them.

What is the Compass of Your Soul?
Richard Dawkins once said that everyone is living their life on some sort of assumption about an ultimate reality. Is God there or not? What is He like? Does He care how I live? The answers to those questions reveal that faith is not some abstract thing—it is the compass of our soul.
We base our decisions—how we spend money, who we marry, our morality—on what our faith system says. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how strong or weak your faith is; what matters is what you are putting your faith in.
If you’re going into surgery, you can research the doctor all you want, but eventually, you go under anesthesia and your life is in their hands. It doesn't matter if you are bold or timid in that moment; it matters if the surgeon is capable. Where have you placed your trust?

The Lord of the Tomb
In John 20:13, Mary’s reaction to the empty tomb is: "They have taken my Lord." Not my teacher, not my friend—my Lord.
Mary had bet her life on him. When she got to the tomb and he was gone, the bottom fell out. We all have a "Lord." We all have something we believe will give us ultimate hope and peace—be it money, a job, family, or grades. But I’ll say this: the weakest faith in Jesus will be far more liberating than the strongest faith in anything else.
Doubling Down: Doubting Your Doubts
In Matthew 14, Peter jumps out of a boat to walk on water. When the storm comes, he begins to sink. Jesus asks him, "Why did you doubt?" For Peter, the reality of the storm was greater than the reality of who Jesus is. When we go through storms—money issues, health issues, relationship struggles—we need to doubt our doubts. Is Jesus the one we can rely on? Is He true to His word?

Faith is not primarily a function of how you feel. Faith is living out and believing what the truth is despite how you feel.

Moving from the Head to the Heart
You can believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus intellectually and still not be a Christ-follower. If it hasn't gone from the head to the heart, you will give up when the storms come because the love of Jesus won't feel real.
If Jesus went to the horror of the cross for you, don't you think you can trust Him with your money, your kids, and your future?
Perhaps the fundamental reason we struggle with doubt is that the Gospel is simply too good to be true. The world tells us that Snow White never wakes up and the prince remains a frog. But when Jesus says, "Mary," the hope of the world becomes true.
Closing: Seek and You Shall Find
Don't just stay in your doubts. Don't leave them as intellectual questions. Act on them. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being a reality we can hold on to. I pray for everyone listening, that this would be an awakening in their soul, mind, and heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.