I had the privilege this week of speaking in Fort Worth for Lifeline Chaplaincy based out of Houston. They place good and godly chaplains in hospitals in Texas. A great group!

While there I had breakfast with a special friend. I hadn’t seen her for some years but she is the kind of friend that you pick up where you left off. We were sharing our hearts. (Isn’t it great to have those kinds of friends? No masks needed.)

During our conversation we talked about doubts and questions and the role they have in our Christian life. So often we in the Evangelical community are made to feel that we cannot doubt or question. Once we make Jesus Lord of our lives all things are nailed down, tucked in and neat. It’s not supposed to be messy and, if it is we dare not let it show.

Well…that’s baloney! Life is messy. Even the Christian life is messy if it is real. Questions and doubts come. We need not feel condemned.

What if David had never doubted or asked questions? We would not have the most treasured book in the Bible, Psalms. What if Jeremiah hadn’t argued with God and doubted?  Or Job? We wouldn’t have the comfort of their agonizing struggles that we can identify with when we walk in “the dark night of the soul”. Or what if King Solomon hadn’t asked about the meaning of life? We wouldn’t have the wisdom of his book. 

No, doubts drive us to questions and questions drive us to the quest for answers. Welcome your questions and doubts but beware that they keep God out. Invite God into the process of your quest for answers.