8. Coping with the Doubts

Last time we discussed how doubts about faith are common among young people and that many adults do not feel confident to address those misgivings.

There is another complicating issue and that is that often our teenagers are unable to express their doubts; they are unclear about what questions need to be asked.

We adults must take the initiative to help the exploration of these concerns rather than ignoring them and allowing them to eat away at our children’s faith.

We have to encourage courageous curiosity. We must remove the fear from our children that their doubts about faith will be a disappointment to us.

Os Guinness has written a whole book about “Doubt”![1] He says:

“If ours is an examined faith, we should be unafraid to doubt…. There is no believing without some doubting and believing is all the stronger for understanding and resolving doubt.”

Doubt does not mean unbelief; doubt raises legitimate questions, which when examined, are likely to strengthen faith.

Parents and teachers must welcome genuine doubts and help the doubter to articulate their concerns. Communication and conversation are the critical areas. One parent suggests these sorts of questions:

“What is something you don’t believe that you think I still believe?”

“What is something you believe that you don’t think I believe?”

I held my breath each time wondering what they might say, but what gave me courage was knowing that faith development is a process best fuelled by honest, regular conversation.

Blessings
Brian

 

 

 


[1] Guinness, O. (1996) God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt. Crossways Books. Back Cover