Dealing with Doubts and Spiritual Struggles: When Knowledge Fails

The Danger of Overconfidence in Knowledge

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

“Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” (1 Corinthians 8:1-2)

Have you ever met Christians who seem to have an explanation for everything, even for God and how God works? At times, they may criticise or look down on others struggling with fear, doubt, or difficult circumstances. With great confidence, they offer explanations for crises, and why things aren’t going as planned with others. They often do not stop to consider the possibility that they could be wrong. Their certainty mirrors that of Job’s friends, who thought they could explain the reason for Job’s sufferings but later discovered God’s greater purpose.

The Mystery and Beauty of Faith

I will stress here that there are certainly clear principles and paths in Scripture that lead to definite outcomes. God desires us to add knowledge to our faith, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him diligently. So I’m not defending believers who are passive with their faith and choose to be ignorant of the provisions and principles of God’s word and leading.

The beauty of Christianity is our faith. Faith that can be fully explained is no longer faith. True faith exists because it does not appeal to human reason; it transcends our understanding. The hardest thing for us to deal with as human beings is uncertainty. Uncertainty is why we worry, why we fear, and why we strive so hard to control our circumstances.

The Growth Process: From Certainty to Uncertainty

As we walk with God, we go through stages of growth. There was a time in my Christian growth when I spoke about God with such certainty. I thought I understood how things work, and I had an explanation for every situation. But a point came when my knowledge failed. I applied all I thought I  knew but I still couldn’t change or explain some situations. I realised that not everything could be understood. God does not owe us an explanation for everything, and that’s what makes Him God. He knows how much we can handle and what we do not yet need to know. If everything could be explained, we wouldn’t need God at all.

True faith is often built in the midst of uncertainty. Even Jesus, in His humanity, experienced uncertainty in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion. He prayed so intensely that His sweat became like drops of blood, expressing His deep anguish and uncertainty about the path ahead. In His final moments of uncertainty on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?!” (Matthew 27:46).

The Role of Uncertainty in Humbling Us

Uncertainties in life can actually protect us from presumptuousness in our faith. I am often cautious around Christians who are too certain in their own understanding. When they place their own opinions above others, they fail to listen and learn. The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthian church, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12). He reminded them that no one knows as they ought to know and that we must be careful not to judge things prematurely.

Paul himself experienced uncertainty when he spoke of the “thorn in the flesh.” Despite his deep revelation knowledge, God allowed this trial to humble him. Paul cried out to God, seeking relief, but God responded with a powerful truth: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul then embraced his weakness, realising that God’s power is most evident when we acknowledge our limitations.

Embracing Weakness and Surrendering to God

In my own walk with God, I’ve come to understand that the closer we draw to Him, the more we recognise how frail and dependent we are. The more we realise our weakness the stronger we become. We begin to see how much we need His strength. In our weakness, God’s strength is perfected (2 Corinthians 12:9). Uncertainty humbles us, drawing us closer to Him, and helping us depend on Him in all things. It is in surrender that we discover true maturity in Christ, for we no longer rely on our own strength but rest in His sufficiency.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Our human wisdom is finite and limited, and it cannot grasp the fullness of God’s infinite wisdom. This is why faith is necessary.

The Role of Faith in Overcoming Fear and Doubt

We are spirit beings living in fragile bodies. Our physical nature limits our understanding and fuels our doubts and fears. But our spirit is eternal and has access to a higher level of understanding. Doubts and fears arise from uncertainty about what the future holds. It’s why we seek security through savings, insurance, and competition for survival. However, the human spirit, while connected to our physical body, is also connected to a greater realm of wisdom. Some refer to this as intuition or a “gut feeling”—the sense that there is something beyond our immediate understanding. When our minds are out of alignment with our spirits, anxiety and doubt grow. This is where prayer and meditation play a vital role in aligning our hearts and minds with God’s will and peace.

Our Advantage as Believers: The Holy Spirit

As believers, our advantage is the Holy Spirit. “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11). Through the Holy Spirit, we can have access to divine understanding. As Romans 8:26-28 assures us, “The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

In moments of uncertainty, we can rest assured in God’s sovereignty and trust that He will reveal what we need to know, according to His will and in His perfect timing.

Embracing Faith Amid Life’s Uncertainties

Are you struggling with doubts about your life, your future, or your faith? This is exactly why you need your faith. Your faith is the anchor that will guide you through life’s uncertainties and bring you to the future God has planned for you. As the songwriter says, “When you may not understand, place it in God’s hands, for we know He’s working all things together for our good.”

If you are wrestling with uncertainty and need someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to listen and support you as you walk through this journey of faith.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)