In our series God For the Rest of Us we discussed how God is for the doubters. Maybe you've been someone who doubted God's existence or involvement. Your doubts don't make God angry. Faith and uncertainty aren't opposites. It's okay to have doubts, but we need to keep moving forward. The truth is that it takes a measure of faith to believe in God or to not believe in Him. Maybe your doubts have come from a "dark night of the soul" (a relationship, health, death, abuse, etc.) and you've wondered if God was there or cares. Just because God seems distant doesn't mean He is. We keep moving forward & in the silence can actually meet God in ways we never have before.

(1) What have been your biggest doubts or questions about God (current or in the past)?

(2) Have you ever had a "dark night of the soul" (went through something painful & felt like God wasn't there, you lost your closeness to God)? What did that do to your relationship with God? Others?

(3) "It takes a step of faith to believe in God and a step of faith to not believe in Him" Do you think that's true? How should that affect how we move forward?

(4) Read John 20:24-29. Thomas doubts his friends that Jesus rose from the dead. What does Jesus do about his doubts? What do we see in Thomas' response?

(5) We all will have doubts and need to move forward in spite of them. One way we can do that is to "decide in advance what I believe about God". Why is it important to come to those conclusions before we go through a "dark night of the soul"? Does who God is change based on time or circumstances or culture?

(6) If you've been struggling with doubts, don't hide from them. God can handle it. Face them, wrestle with them, keep investigating. In those moments take a step of trust, even if you might not feel there's a reason to. Cling to God. If He's real, He will meet you in those moments and help you walk through those dark nights. What's your next step?

God, in my doubts, questions, or even in my dark night of the soul, would You show me your real. Speak to me. Help me to keep at this, help me to cling to you when the questions are swirling. Thank you that you can handle my questions and skepticism. Thank you that you are FOR the rest of us. Amen.