If you are on fire for the Lord and feel the Spirit move easily through your life, that is a tremendous blessing. However, if you’re struggling with doubt, know that your difficulty believing makes you no lesser of a Christian than any other Christian.

It can be extremely difficult for those of us who rely heavily on our senses to always feel connected and confident about the reality of God’s love, even when we know that we have experienced it in times past or want to have the faith that others might.

Know that your doubts only make you human and don’t be afraid to pray about them specifically to God and to talk to them with other believers, even those who struggle similarly or, better yet, have been in the faith a long time and have had time to untangle the concerns you might be facing. Additionally, make sure to do some research by reading works by early church fathers and mothers as it is highly possible that your unbelief is something someone else has already walked through.

Did you know that the Bible even addresses concerns of doubt?

The Bible tells us in Mark 9:14-29 a story about a boy who was possessed by a demon. Read the story here and remember the words of the child’s father and Jesus’ words in response:

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.  As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.  Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”