Doubt Not, Fear Not
Doubt Not, Fear Not
By Lecia Crider
It is not uncommon, as a teen or adult, to begin to question or doubt things you were taught as a child, or things you believed yourself at one time but are no longer sure of, including your religious beliefs. This conflict between belief and doubt can create a great deal of anxiety and inner turmoil. The exciting thing to remember, though, is that a time of questioning can be a heady time of growth and personal revelation, if approached in the right way.
Scripture mentions a couple of ways to approach our apprehensions: we can doubt, or we can seek.
Doubt means to fear; to be apprehensive; to suspect; to hesitate to believe (Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary). The Topical Guide in the King James version of the Bible equates it with unbelief.
The Lord has been very clear how He feels about doubt. Here are just a few of the things He, or His prophets, have said about it:
“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind,” (Luke 12:29).
“Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart…” (Mormon 9:27)
“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not,” (Doctrine & Covenants 6:36).
It’s pretty clear that the Lord does not want us to doubt. Contrastingly, He is forever encouraging seeking, encouraging us to ask questions. Here are some of His words on that subject:
“But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of hear…,” (Doctrine & Covenants 46:7, emphasis mine).
“ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed,” (James 1:5-6).
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” (Matthew 7:7).
So what, really, is the difference between having a doubt and having a question?
Think of doubt as a stagnant verb. There is no real action involved. Doubt is often coupled with anger or discontent rather than with an effort to resolve the doubt. If there is action, it generally takes the form of avoidance or criticism, neither of which can ever lead to any kind of resolution.
Questioning, on the other hand, is an active verb that implies seeking. Questioning can be thought of as not understanding something, coupled with a desire and effort to acquire that understanding.
It is the effort to find answers to questions that makes them so much more productive than doubts. Doubts can be turned into questions by replacing anger or discontent with active, humble seeking.
As President Russell M. Nelson has said, “The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it.”
The Lord desires to bless us with additional understanding and knowledge (see Doctrine & Covenants 1:28 and Exodus 31:3). But when we turn from Him in anger or frustration because we lack understanding, we turn away from our best source of additional wisdom.
Don’t despair when you feel yourself doubting. There’s no need to fear. You have the power to change your doubts into questions by seeking answers from the One who is the source of all truth. The moment you fall to your knees in prayer, you’re on the right track.
