Building the Skill of Doubting Well

From the laments of the Psalmist to the cry of Jesus on the cross, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” biblical accounts example that with faith comes doubt (Matthew 27:46, NRSV). 

So, how do we doubt well? 

When we doubt, question, reorient, or deconstruct we can often experience anxiety. It is scary to ask hard questions and not know where the answers will go or even who we will become. Our own anxiety can function as the very barrier to doubting honestly and earnestly. For some of us, when we face our doubts we might be overwhelmed and become indifferent. For others, we might get angry and find ourselves stuck in skepticism. Some of us might be so discomforted by ambiguity that we retreat back to the reassurance of old ways of black-and-white thinking. 

Doubting well is difficult because it requires us to stay with our own discomfort, be honest, and eventually move through it. 

Let’s practice building the skill of doubting. 

Today, start small. Pick a “low-stakes” topic that you have questions about. Bring this topic to mind or write it down. Notice how you feel. What questions do you have? What scares you about not knowing the answer? 

Allow uncomfortable emotions to come up, pause, and stay with them for several minutes. 

Befriend the anxiety. Breathe. 

When you are ready, finish your time with this breath prayer: 

• Inhale deeply and pray, “These doubts scare me,”

• Exhale deeply and pray,“God, you are with me.” 

Continue this prayer for a couple minutes moving closer to your inner stillness and God’s peace.