Conquering DoubtSýnishorn

Get With the Right People

There was a time when I was really low and questioning everything about God … but my friends Brian and Gabe really rescued me from that dark season. They didn’t scold or belittle how I was feeling; instead, they graciously helped me see all the amazing ways God was working in my life. I needed their comforting friendship in that time, because, without them, I would’ve been stranded and lost in my doubts.

It’s always important to be reminded that you cannot battle your doubts as an isolated island, at least not with any sustained amount of success. Despite what our individualistic culture may push, Christianity isn’t a solo thing. This is why it’s vital to plug in with a body of believers in a local church and/or campus ministry.

Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” In other words, if you’re getting input from multiple people, you’re going to make better decisions than you would on your own. When you intentionally surround yourself with the right people who love God, value authenticity, and are bold enough to call you toward godly living, your trust in God builds, and your doubts don’t linger and consume you. They can’t because, as the saying goes, there is safety in numbers. Just make sure those numbers value their relationship with Christ more than anything else.

I know in a world of earbuds and mail-order everything good community seems impossible. But I promise you it’s worth pursuing—especially when you’re wrestling with doubt. I also know it can feel like you’re in community simply because you’re surrounded by people all the time, whether you’re a student or in the working world. But real relationships require depth in a way that proximity alone won’t accomplish.

Likewise, don’t assume that because you’re well-connected via text and social media, you’re living in community. Church and authentic Christian camaraderie happen in the context of face-to-face interaction. If we know a person solely through the veneer of social media profiles and edited text messages, we don’t know that person entirely. Sure, we can begin to understand who a person is by watching the videos they post about what they appreciate, what kind of humor they enjoy, and what restaurant they ate at last weekend. But that’s only part of the picture. We’re deceiving ourselves if we think we can get to know someone deeply only through social media. The real you is the real you, and you shouldn’t want people to only experience the polished version. You were created for something much deeper.

There is no good substitute for the real thing. Find your people so that when you doubt, you do it alongside real human beings. Let them see through the shine of your edited self. That’s when real change, help, hope, and growth happen.