Bible verses about doubt
Scripture records more doubt than it resolves, and it records who did the doubting: a prophet, a forerunner in prison, a man asked to believe his friends about a resurrection. These passages are set out with a sentence on each.
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24 · WEB
Glory on the mountain with the command to listen — and at its foot, a failed exorcism, a desperate father's honest prayer, and the remedy of prayer itself.
Read the comment on Transfigured, and a Faithless Generation
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” — John 20:27 · WEB
The man who refused secondhand testimony is given exactly what he asked for, and makes the highest confession in the book.
and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” — Matthew 11:3 · WEB
The forerunner sends from prison to ask whether he was right — and gets a list of works rather than a yes.
How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? — Psalm 13:1 · WEB
Six verses that travel from abandonment to singing, and the whole journey is made without a single circumstance changing.
Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save? — Habakkuk 1:2 · WEB
The book opens with a prophet complaining that God is not listening — and Scripture records the complaint without a word of rebuke.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. — Psalm 73:2 · WEB
A man almost loses his faith over the prosperity of the wicked, and says so in public.
“Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more? — Psalm 77:7 · WEB
A man who cannot sleep asks six questions nobody should ask, and then deliberately changes what he is thinking about.
“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him. — Job 23:8 · WEB
Job wants an address rather than an answer, and states that a hearing would go in his favor before admitting he cannot get one.
Read the comment on Job: Oh That I Knew Where I Might Find Him
He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? — Luke 24:38 · WEB
He appears in the room, they think he is a ghost, and he asks for something to eat.
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” — Matthew 14:31 · WEB
He comes to them across the lake before dawn — and Peter asks to come out, which only this Gospel records.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. — John 6:68 · WEB
Most of his followers leave, he asks the twelve whether they want to as well, and Peter answers with a question.
Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, — Romans 4:20 · WEB
Abraham's faith is described as clear-eyed rather than naive — the facts fully considered, and God weighed as heavier.
On some have compassion, making a distinction, — Jude 1:22 · WEB
The contending the letter actually orders is building, praying, keeping — and a rescue graded to how far each person has drifted.
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. — James 1:6 · WEB
God's giving is described without a single qualification, and the only obstacle named is a division inside the person asking.
He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you; and more will be given to you who hear. — Mark 4:24 · WEB