Showing mercy to those struggling with doubt
SOME PEOPLE NEED MERCY, NOT JUDGMENTJude 1:22“And have mercy on those who doubt.” — Jude 1:22 (ESV)
Not everyone who is struggling with their faith is walking away from God. Some are simply tired. Some are confused. Some are carrying wounds that nobody knows about. Some have prayed prayers that seem unanswered, waited through seasons that don't make sense, or experienced things that have shaken what they thought they knew about God. And sometimes, instead of finding compassion, they find criticism. We can be quick to correct someone when what they really need is someone willing to sit with them.
We can be quick to quote Scripture when what they really need is someone who will patiently walk alongside them and remind them of what is true. Jude gives us a simple but powerful instruction: Have mercy on those who doubt. Notice what he doesn't say. He doesn't say shame them. He doesn't say avoid them. He doesn't say question whether their faith was ever genuine. He says to have mercy. Because sometimes the person asking difficult questions isn't rebelling against God. They're desperately trying to hold on to Him. And there's a difference.Think about Thomas. When the other disciples told him that Jesus was alive, Thomas struggled to believe. He wanted evidence. He wanted to see for himself. And how did Jesus respond? He came near. He met Thomas in the middle of his uncertainty and invited him to see His wounds. Jesus didn't compromise the truth, but He demonstrated compassion in the way He delivered it.
Truth and mercy were never meant to compete with each other. I wonder how many people have quietly drifted away from the church, not because they stopped believing in God, but because they didn't feel safe admitting they were struggling. We need to remember that spiritual maturity isn't measured only by how much Scripture we know. It's also revealed in how we treat people who are having a hard time believing it. It's easy to show grace to someone whose life looks put together. It's harder when someone is questioning, doubting, struggling, or making decisions we don't understand. But that's exactly where mercy matters. And before we become too critical of someone else's struggle, perhaps we should remember how patient God has been with ours.
We've all had moments when fear was louder than faith. We've all wrestled with questions. We've all needed the Lord to remind us of His goodness. And He has been merciful. That doesn't mean we ignore sin, compromise biblical truth, or pretend every doubt is harmless. It means we recognize that how we lead someone toward truth matters just as much as our willingness to speak it.
Sometimes mercy looks like listening without interrupting. Sometimes it looks like answering the same question again. Sometimes it looks like praying with someone who doesn't have the strength to pray. And sometimes it simply looks like staying when everyone else has walked away. We live in a world that's quick to label people, dismiss them, and give up on them. The church should be different. We should be a place where people can bring their questions, their struggles, and their brokenness without being made to feel like they're beyond the reach of God's grace. Because mercy doesn't push people farther from Jesus. It helps point them back to Him.
Here's what I keep coming back to: Not everyone who is struggling needs a lecture. Not everyone who is doubting needs a debate. Not everyone who is falling needs someone pointing out how far they've fallen. Sometimes they need someone who will gently take their hand and help them find their footing again. Be that person. The one who listens. The one who prays. The one who speaks truth with love. The one who remembers that God has shown them far more mercy than they could ever deserve. Because you never know how God might use a little compassion to restore someone's faith. And maybe today, you're the one struggling. Maybe you're the one with questions you haven't been able to answer.
Remember this: Your questions do not place you beyond God's reach. Bring them honestly to Him. He is not intimidated by your uncertainty.Mercy doesn't mean we take truth less seriously. It means we take people seriously, too.
SIT WITH THIS When someone is struggling, am I more concerned with proving that I'm right or helping them draw closer to Jesus?
PRAYER Lord, give me a heart that reflects Yours. Help me to be patient with those who are struggling, gentle with those who are doubting, and compassionate toward those who are hurting. Keep me from becoming so focused on being right that I forget to love people well. And when my own faith feels weak, remind me of Your mercy and faithfulness. Teach me to speak truth with grace and to see people the way You see them. In Jesus' name, amen.
Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is show mercy to someone who is struggling to believe.