The Role Doubt Plays in Faith

There’s a moment in life when we find ourselves standing at a crossroads. It's a crisis of belief. It’s the space between what we say we believe and whether we’re willing to take a step into the unknown based on that belief. It’s that inner wrestling, the indecision before the decision.

A powerful picture of this is found in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. There’s a scene where Indiana Jones is standing before a deep cavern, needing to get across. There’s no visible bridge, just empty space. But he suspects there might be something there. So he throws some sand out in front of him. It lands on something solid, but his eyes still can’t see the path. That is the crisis of belief. Everything in him says “don’t move,” but eventually, he takes that step.

This is what it’s like to be at a spiritual crossroads. It’s where our theology, what we know about God, is called to become reality. It’s where we decide whether we will walk forward in faith or hold back out of fear and doubt.

Understanding the Crisis of Belief
Authors Henry Blackaby and Claude King explain that the word crisis comes from the Greek word for decision. It’s a turning point, a fork in the road, where you must decide what you believe about God. How you respond at that fork determines whether you continue with God into something only He can do, or whether you turn away and miss what He has planned for your life.

Hebrews 11:6 puts it plainly: "Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

We’re called to a life of faith. But that call always brings us to a decision point. Will I believe what I know to be true about God, or will I believe what I feel about myself in this moment?

Let’s look at two people in Scripture who faced this crisis. They’re not just examples. They are reminders that we’re not alone when we find ourselves at that crossroads.

Thomas: The Crisis Between Doubt and Trust
Thomas is famously known as Doubting Thomas. After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to the disciples in the upper room, but Thomas wasn’t there. When he finally showed up, the others told him, “Jesus is alive!” But Thomas wasn’t convinced.

In John 20:25, he responds, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails... I will never believe.”

Thomas needed evidence before surrender. Many of us are wired the same way. We want something we can see, touch, or understand before we give our trust. But notice what happens next. Jesus, in His grace, appears again and invites Thomas to touch His hands and side. And in that moment, Thomas responds, “My Lord and my God.”

This is one of the strongest confessions of Jesus’ divinity in all of Scripture. If you’re someone who struggles with doubt, Thomas is your example. If you seek God, He will reveal Himself to you in ways that satisfy your questions. Not always immediately, but always faithfully.

But don’t wait around for God to prove Himself first. Hebrews 11:6 says He rewards those who seek Him, not those who just sit back waiting. Doubt is not the enemy of faith, but it must lead to a pursuit of God, not passivity.

Abraham: The Crisis Between Promise and Provision
Abraham’s entire life was a long journey of obedience through unanswered questions. His crisis of belief was not just a moment. It was a lifestyle. God had promised him descendants as numerous as the stars and the sand. He had promised a son through whom the blessing would come.

But in Genesis 22, after finally receiving his son Isaac, God asks Abraham to do something unthinkable: offer Isaac as a sacrifice.

Genesis 22:9-10 says Abraham built the altar, arranged the wood, bound his son, and raised the knife. But just as he was about to act, the angel of the Lord called out, stopping him. A ram was provided in Isaac’s place.

Why is this moment so important? Because Abraham acted purely out of trust in God’s character. He didn’t understand the command, but he trusted the One who gave it.

Hebrews 11:17-19 looks back on this moment and explains Abraham’s mindset: "He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead." Abraham believed that if God asked for Isaac, then God must also be able to bring him back. That kind of faith pleases God. It trusts who He is, even when what He asks doesn’t make sense.

What Will You Do at the Crossroads?
Both Thomas and Abraham faced a crisis of belief. Thomas struggled between doubt and trust. Abraham wrestled between God’s promise and His strange provision. But both ultimately chose faith.

The crossroads moment is unavoidable. Whether it comes through grief, uncertainty, waiting, or a call to surrender, each of us will face a time when we must decide. Do I trust what I know to be true about God, or do I follow what I see, feel, or fear?

Faith is not blind. It sees clearly who God is and chooses to act, even when the path isn't fully visible. Like Indiana Jones in the film, there comes a point when you must step, even when your eyes can’t fully confirm the bridge is there. That isn’t foolishness. That is faith.

So where are you today? Are you stuck in indecision, waiting for proof? Or are you walking forward, trusting the One who has never failed?

The role of doubt in faith isn’t to paralyze you. It’s to invite you to deeper trust. To push you to seek. And when you do, you will find that God is already there—faithful, present, and ready to lead you through.

Remember: Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. But He rewards those who seek Him.


This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson at our CityRise Bellaire campus on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. Check out the full message below!