Hard Talk #2: Honest Doubt vs. Cynicism (The Heart of the Question)
- Terry Hunsaker
- Feb 1
- 2 min read
There is a common fear in the church that if you pull on one loose thread of "Why?", the whole garment of your faith will unravel. We’ve been taught that doubt is the enemy of faith. But for many, the greatest threat to a living relationship with God isn't the presence of a question—it is the arrival of a cold, closed heart.
The Hard Look
We have to distinguish between two very different ways of wrestling with God:
Honest Doubt is a seeker. It is the "help my unbelief" prayer of the father in Mark 9. It asks, "Lord, I don’t understand this, but I am still here, and I am still looking to You." Honest doubt is a sign that your faith is alive enough to feel the tension of the world. It keeps the dialogue open.
Cynicism is a wall. It isn't just a question; it’s a conclusion. It has already decided that God isn't listening or that the "Sunday answers" are lies. While doubt wrestles with God, cynicism walks away from the table entirely.
If faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), then the opposite of faith isn't having a question—it’s the pride of thinking we have already seen enough to judge God. God is not intimidated by your "Why?". From Job to Thomas, the Bible is full of people who brought their raw, unfiltered questions to the Creator. The danger isn't in the question; the danger is when we stop expecting an answer.
The Path Forward: Bringing the Question Home
Check Your Posture: Are you asking "Why?" with your hands open (seeking), or with your fists clenched (judging)? This helps you see if you are wrestling for a deeper blessing or if you are simply building a case for bitterness.
Take the Question to the Source: When we doubt, we often go to the internet or to skeptical friends first. Try taking the question to God directly. Be honest. Be raw. He would rather have your "impolite" honesty than your polite hypocrisy.
Lean into the Mystery: Authentic living means accepting that we are finite beings trying to understand an infinite God. It is okay to say, "I don't know why this is happening, but I know the character of the One who is with me in it."
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