Job replies to the unhelpful advice of his friend Zophar by saying, ‘If you want to offer comfort, then listen to me’ (Job 21:2 CEV). These words could well be echoed by many doubters. If we want to offer doubting people help we must begin by listening to them. Indeed a listening ear may the primary answer to their doubts. As Os Guinness points out, sometimes ‘it is not so much specific answers to specific doubts that bring relief but rather that doubts can be discussed at all.’
Listening to someone struggling with doubt is neither passive nor silent. We should certainly not talk over them or dominate the conversation but we should ask probing questions. The reason for this lies in the fact that the roots of doubt may be deeper than first realised. The doubter themselves may not fully understand their own doubt and need help from someone who can see things more objectively.
As we listen and ask questions we might discover that a person’s doubts are straightforward—they may have seen a one-sided television program that cast doubt on a claim of Christianity not realising that there is nothing new in the antagonist’s claim and that Christian scholars have given answers to the issue raised. We may find that another person’s doubts are merely a smokescreen—the person has attended church often but are hesitant to commit their life to Jesus so they hide behind their many questions. Still others may reveal complex roots to their doubts—deep wounds or struggles with mental health may result in difficulties with trusting that God exists and that he cares.
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