Craig Groeschel

Yes, yeah. Well, I think what you're saying is so true and so sad that so often in the church, we almost shame people out of being honest, right? And we think if we have doubts, then we must be a bad Christian. Well, if you have doubts, it doesn't make you a bad Christian. It makes you human. And if you look at the way Jesus handled people that doubted, He didn't shame them.

He didn't push them away. He had grace for them. And if Jesus had grace, I mean, Martha doubted whenever Lazarus died and Jesus said, I'm the resurrection of life. And he healed. A guy questioned, could Jesus heal his son? And Jesus built his faith and healed his son. Peter walked on water and and sank in the water. And Jesus said, why'd you doubt?

He didn't push them away. He had grace for them. And if Jesus had grace, I mean, Martha doubted whenever Lazarus died and Jesus said, I'm the resurrection of life. And he healed. A guy questioned, could Jesus heal his son? And Jesus built his faith and healed his son. Peter walked on water and and sank in the water. And Jesus said, why'd you doubt?

What's funny is I always thought that was like an accusation. Like, why'd you doubt, you dumb guy? You have little faith. But when you think about it, Jesus was, he reached down, he pulled the guy out of the water. I think Jesus was saying like, why are you doubting me? I'm here, I'm helping you. You're walking on water, I love you. I'm pulling you out of water.

What's funny is I always thought that was like an accusation. Like, why'd you doubt, you dumb guy? You have little faith. But when you think about it, Jesus was, he reached down, he pulled the guy out of the water. I think Jesus was saying like, why are you doubting me? I'm here, I'm helping you. You're walking on water, I love you. I'm pulling you out of water.

That he had grace for people to doubt it. So if he did, shouldn't we? And I've found, it's crazy, but as a pastor, I've had seasons I could tell you about, very distinct seasons of doubt. And by talking about them, I found that other Christians are both relieved and then learn that doubt isn't the enemy of faith. In many ways, kind of like what you're doing, it's an invitation to a deeper faith.

That he had grace for people to doubt it. So if he did, shouldn't we? And I've found, it's crazy, but as a pastor, I've had seasons I could tell you about, very distinct seasons of doubt. And by talking about them, I found that other Christians are both relieved and then learn that doubt isn't the enemy of faith. In many ways, kind of like what you're doing, it's an invitation to a deeper faith.

Yes. You don't doubt because you don't love God. You doubt because you do love God and you don't understand. Mm-hmm. And God is big enough to handle your questions. I think He wants them. He embraces them. And you see all through the Bible, people going to God going, why? I don't understand. Where are you? Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? And it's all over the word.

Yes. You don't doubt because you don't love God. You doubt because you do love God and you don't understand. Mm-hmm. And God is big enough to handle your questions. I think He wants them. He embraces them. And you see all through the Bible, people going to God going, why? I don't understand. Where are you? Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? And it's all over the word.

So if other people of God can go to God with questions, I think you can go to God with questions. And I think He welcomes it and will not push you away, but help you grow through it.

So if other people of God can go to God with questions, I think you can go to God with questions. And I think He welcomes it and will not push you away, but help you grow through it.

So imagine this, and a lot of people miss this. Jesus has risen from the dead. He's about to ascend to heaven. He's up on a mountaintop. He's with the disciples. And Matthew says right before Jesus gives a great commission, right before it says, and they worshiped him. And some doubted. That's what the Bible says. They worshiped him and some doubted.

So imagine this, and a lot of people miss this. Jesus has risen from the dead. He's about to ascend to heaven. He's up on a mountaintop. He's with the disciples. And Matthew says right before Jesus gives a great commission, right before it says, and they worshiped him. And some doubted. That's what the Bible says. They worshiped him and some doubted.

And Jesus said, go into all the world and preach the gospel. So he said, go into the world and do my work, doubts and all. Like literally right there, they're looking at the risen Christ. And they worshiped and some doubted. That's me. Like one day I'm worshiping and then sometimes I'm going, is this really true? And he still sent them out to go and do the Great Commission. That makes me feel...

And Jesus said, go into all the world and preach the gospel. So he said, go into the world and do my work, doubts and all. Like literally right there, they're looking at the risen Christ. And they worshiped and some doubted. That's me. Like one day I'm worshiping and then sometimes I'm going, is this really true? And he still sent them out to go and do the Great Commission. That makes me feel...

seen, valued, loved, understood, inspired, that it's okay to still go do ministry when I don't understand it all.

seen, valued, loved, understood, inspired, that it's okay to still go do ministry when I don't understand it all.

Yeah. And so, when you did that, when you went to God and said, I don't understand, and talked to Him, what happens?

Yeah. And so, when you did that, when you went to God and said, I don't understand, and talked to Him, what happens?

Yes, you see so much pain.