Quotes about Doubt

Who had persuaded me that God preferred four walls and a roof to wide-open spaces? When had I made the subtle switch myself, becoming convinced that church bodies and buildings were the safest and most reliable places to encounter the living God?

I wanted to recover the kind of faith that has nothing to do with being sure what I believe and everything to do with trusting God to catch me though I am not sure of anything.

The faith that had sustained them through their middle years had gotten as tight as their old clothes. Their views of God, scripture, the church, and the world were all under renovation.

As important as it is to mark the places where we meet God, I worry about what happens when we build a house for God.

Reason is the enemy of faith.

I had times when I'd be reading the Bible, and it would be talking about Jesus healing other people, and I'd be angry. I asked God some difficult questions. 'Why didn't you heal my wife?'

There were times when I was so sick of talking about the Bible.

This life journey has led me to love mystery and not feel the need to change it or make it un-mysterious. This has put me at odds with many other believers I know who seem to need explanations for everything.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" —MATTHEW 14:29

Francis Schaeffer's Escape from Reason. To my great surprise and delight, that small book had answered questions I'd long before dismissed as unanswerable.

What does it mean to persevere? It means that we continue to believe, and that we live like believers, which means obediently. It doesn't mean sinlessness; it doesn't mean that we are on some steady and never-failing incline up into pure sanctification; it does not deny stumbling or messy spirituality; it doesn't deny doubt and problems. It simply means that the person continues to walk with Jesus and doesn't walk away from him in a resolute manner.

I don't think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won't be good at it.