how to trust God when you are struggling with doubt
How to Trust God When You Are Struggling with Doubt
There are many days when I look around and grapple with questions. Can I really trust my prayers are heard when they go unanswered? Can I trust when the world around me doesn’t make sense? When my faith feels weak because I see others prospering? Doubt is something many of us struggle with, yet few want to say it out loud. It’s part of the human condition, but how to trust God when you are struggling with doubt is a question we can answer together. In this post, I want to walk with you through stories of people in the Bible who wrestled with doubt, and still trusted God. Their stories show us what real faith looks like in the middle of questions and can help guide us today.
4 Biblical Reminders for How to Trust God When You Are Struggling with Doubt
1. When Life Feels Unfair, Be Honest with God
(Psalm 73)
Asaph was a worship leader, a man who knew God’s truth. But Psalm 73 reads like a page straight out of my own journal. He admits that his feet had almost slipped. Why? Because he looked at the wicked, and they seemed to be thriving.
They had no struggles. No burdens. They lived in ease while he was walking through hardship. Sound familiar?
There are days when we see those who don’t follow God living what looks like the good life, free of pain, while we’re facing trial after trial. It's frustrating. It's discouraging. And like Asaph, we wonder if living for God even matters.
He tried to make sense of it all, but it just didn’t add up.
“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply…”
“…till I entered the sanctuary of God.” (Psalm 73:16–17)
That was the shift. Asaph didn’t get all the answers but once he came back into God’s presence, his heart changed. He remembered that even if the wicked seem to prosper now, they don’t have the hope he has. He saw again that God is still good, still near, still faithful.
Take action: Be honest. Take the questions to God instead of away from Him. Trust doesn't come by ignoring doubt, it grows by bringing it into His presence.
2. When the Promise Feels Impossible, Trust His Power
(Genesis 18)
Sarah had heard God’s promise. But time passed and still, no child. When the Lord visited Abraham and said Sarah would have a son, she was listening behind the tent wall. And she laughed.
Not out loud at first, but to herself.
“After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12)
Can you blame her? The facts didn’t line up. She was well past childbearing years, and so was Abraham. From a human standpoint, it did seem ridiculous. But God didn’t ignore her doubt. He responded, not with anger, but with a question:
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
What I love is that Sarah stayed close enough to hear that response. She was afraid but God still included her in the promise. He saw her laughter, her fear, and her doubt yet fulfilled the word anyway.
And later? Hebrews 11 places her in the hall of faith.
“By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive… since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11)
She didn’t start with mountain-moving faith. But faith doesn’t have to start big. Jesus said even mustard-seed faith is enough. And God grew hers through time, through fear, through waiting.
Take action: When the promise feels out of reach or completely impossible, trust that He is able. You may not feel strong in faith but trust His power. Stay close enough to hear Him speak and let that mustard-seed faith grow.
3. When God Feels Distant, Lean Into What You Know of His Faithfulness
(Judges 6)
Gideon’s story is one I come back to often. His doubt wasn’t quiet, it was bold, honest, and continual. And if I’m being real, I get it.
When the angel of the Lord called him a “mighty warrior,” Gideon had questions. Big ones.
“If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders that our ancestors told us about?” (Judges 6:13)
He had heard the stories about the miracles, deliverance, power. But now? Life was hard. God felt far. And Gideon couldn't see how those past miracles connected to his present reality.
Even after God spoke, Gideon wasn’t done doubting. He asked for proof again and again. First with an offering. Then with a fleece. Then with another fleece. We watch him question while God patiently walks with him step by step.
What strikes me is how God didn’t turn him away. He didn’t say, “Enough!” He kept showing up. That’s the grace of God. And Gideon? He kept showing up. Yes, he had questions, but he was slowly learning to obey.
Isn’t that us sometimes? We know what God has said. We’ve heard what He’s done. But we still want reassurance. We want signs. We want to be sure before we step out.
And yet—God stays near.
Take action: If your trust is fragile, lean into what you do know. Has God shown up before? Has He proven faithful in someone else’s story? Don’t let distance or doubt keep you from following. You don’t need perfect faith to move forward, just a willing heart and a God who never fails.
4. When You’ve Delayed in Faith, Remember His Grace Still Meets You
(John 20)
Thomas wasn’t just doubting the resurrection, he was doubting the people closest to him. For eight whole days, while the other disciples celebrated what they had seen, Thomas sat in disbelief.
He had walked with Jesus. He had heard the promise that Jesus would rise again. And still, he wanted physical proof. The words of his fellow laborers in the gospel weren’t enough.
“Unless I see… unless I touch… I will not believe.” (John 20:25)
I think about what those eight days must have been like. The others were likely filled with joy, testifying to what they’d experienced, while Thomas sat quietly, still waiting, still resisting. How many of us have been there holding onto our doubt, even while surrounded by stories of faith?
But Jesus didn’t leave Thomas out. He came back just for him.
“Put your finger here… stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)
Thomas believed. And then Jesus said something that speaks directly to us today:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
Thomas’s doubt gave us something important—not just a testimony of Jesus’ patience and grace, but a testimony of Jesus Himself. His resurrection was real. His word was true. He showed Himself to the disciples so that we could believe even without seeing.
We may not get physical proof like Thomas did, but we have his story as proof that Jesus keeps His word. His scars were real. His victory was real. And His invitation to believe is just as real for us today.
Take action: If you’ve delayed in trusting, or wrestled longer than you’d like to admit, don’t give up. Jesus doesn't just meet us in our doubts, He gives us reason to trust Him. Believe Him. His word is enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Trust God When You Are Struggling With Doubt: Final Thoughts
I’ve learned so much from the accounts of these Bible figures, and I hope you have too. When I face doubt, I hold on to the truths their stories revealed. We’re really no different from them. Their circumstances may seem bigger, such as a promised pregnancy beyond age 70, a call to fight an entire nation, or seeing the risen Savior, but their questions sound just like ours.
Why are the ungodly flourishing? Will God really answer my prayers? Can He fix this? Does He still see me?
If you’re wondering how to trust God when you are struggling with doubt, let their lives point you back to Him. God was patient, present, and faithful then and He still is now. You don’t need perfect faith. You just need to take the next small step in His direction. He’ll meet you there.
💜 Need Daily Encouragement?
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