Doubt

Doubt is uncertainty or wavering in belief. Believers doubted at times, Jesus answered their doubts, and God calls his people to faith and assurance.

Believers who doubted

• Matthew 14:29-31
  ²⁹And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
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• Matthew 28:17
  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
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• Mark 9:23-24
  ²³Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” ²⁴And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
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• John 20:24-25
  ²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
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Jesus answers doubts

• John 20:26-29
  ²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” ²⁸And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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• Luke 24:38-39
  ³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
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• Matthew 11:2-6
  ²Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples ³And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” ⁴Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. ⁶And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
  Show context · Read Matthew 11 →

Warnings against wavering

• James 1:5-8
  ⁵If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
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• Matthew 21:21
  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
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• Romans 4:20
  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
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Faith and assurance

• Hebrews 11:1
  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
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• Hebrews 11:6
  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 11 →
• 1 John 5:13
  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
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See also

• Faith
• Trusting God
• Anxiety

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.