It might sound crazy, but I can honestly say that I thank God for my doubts. It鈥檚 not that I always appreciate having doubts. Sometimes doubts can be a burden. But even so, I realize something deeper about the reason God has for my doubts. Let me explain.

I am a consistent doubter. I doubt almost everything including purchases, beliefs and my daily choices. It is simply the way I am wired (and probably also the result of having a father who constantly challenged me to think). To be honest, sometimes the doubts can seem crushing.

Why thank God for doubts?

The answer is simple: It鈥檚 doubts that drive me to seek truth. That鈥檚 right, doubts drive me to read, study, think, question, and constantly try to uncover what is true. It bothers me to not know something, and I tirelessly try to uncover truth about it.

Without my doubts, I doubt (yes, pun intended) that I would have written a 300+ page academic book on the or helped my father update his classic book , which is 700+ pages. I certainly am motivated to create resources that genuinely help people, but so much of my own drive comes from my personal doubts and skepticism. I want to be confident about what I believe.

A Personal Lament

A few years ago, I was lamenting that God didn鈥檛 give me more faith. I have a pastor friend who clearly has the gift of faith. He鈥檚 always optimistic about his family, faith and church. No matter how dim things get, he鈥檒l constantly say, 鈥淒on鈥檛 worry. God is in control. He鈥檚 got this.鈥

Yet, as much as I believe him, I still find myself thinking, 鈥淏ut how do you really know? What if God has other plans? Are you sure?鈥 I just can鈥檛 help it. I question things. But why? Ultimately, I think there are two reasons.

The benefit of doubt

First, as I mentioned above, doubts motivate me to study, research, learn and go deeper in my understanding. If it were not such a skeptic, I would probably never spend so much time trying to learn and educate other believers. If you have a weakness, have you ever considered how God may have a deeper purpose for it?

Second, and perhaps most important, my doubts drive me to rest in God鈥檚 grace rather than my own understanding. When doubts plague me, and I can鈥檛 resolve something in my mind, I am driven to God for his mercy. Jude 1:22 says to 鈥渉ave mercy on those who doubt.鈥 And I often think of the powerful words spoken by the Apostle Paul, when he reflected on his own weakness: 鈥淢y grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness鈥 (2 Cor. 12:9).

God uses our weaknesses to draw us into deeper relationship with Him and for greater personal sanctification. In fact, God seems to enjoy using our weaknesses and shortcomings, so that He gets the glory. These are life-changing truths for which I rarely doubt.

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