Troubles may cause us to doubt in God. When everything goes well with you, you will keep on praising God as you have nothing to worry about. However, we get challenged to believe in God at one time when we face difficult situations which we don’t know how to solve. There are a number of characters in the bible that doubt in God. The accounts of these biblical characters who used to doubt in God were compiled in the bible as in the will of God for us to read because God wants us to know trust and not doubt in him (2 Timothy 3:16).

Job

Job doubted in God’s goodness when God gave Satan permission to destroy his livestock, servants, children and finally his health. Job didn’t know that it was Satan who caused all these troubles to him. Satan challenged God when he asked him what he think about his servant Job. Satan’s excuse is that God had put a protection shield around him. In the second time Satan come before God, God asked him what he think about his servant Job again and Satan replied Job remains upright because he still has his health. Therefore, God let Satan destroy Job’s health but he is not allowed to kill him.

Job felt as if God purposely struck him with these calamities so that he will be a failure. Job did not agree with his friends’ statement that God punished him with these calamities because he sin. Job wanted a fair trial in the court with God. He wanted God to tell him where he did wrong. In the end, God spoke to Job and rebuked him for questioning him. Job repented for questioning about God’s goodness. God restored back to Job two times of the livestock he used to have and blessed him with another 10 children (The Book of Job).

Gideon

Gideon doubted in God’s ability to help him win the war against the Midianites so he prayed for God to give him proof. He prayed that God make the wool on the threshing floor wet but the ground dry. The next morning, Gideon found the wool wet but the ground dry. He wrung a bowlful of water from the wool. He prayed to God again. This time, he asked God to make the wool on the threshing floor dry but the ground wet. The next morning, Gideon found the wool dry but the ground wet.

God had the majority of Gideon’s men sent home. Only 300 out of 22,000 of Gideon’s men stayed to go into war against the Midianites. The 300 were the men who lapped the water while the rest knelt down to have a drink from the streams. God did this so that Gideon would not think that he gain victory over the Midianites with his own effort.

When God called Gideon to fight the Midianites, Gideon was afraid and God told him to go down to the Midianite camp with his servant Purah to hear what the soldier said. When Gideon and Purah arrived, it is just the time the Midianite soldier changed shift. One Midianite soldier said to another soldier that he dreamed of a loaf of barley bread that tumbles into the Midianite camp and hit the tent with such a force that it collapsed. The other soldier responded his dream must mean that God has delivered the Midianites into the hands of Gideon. This gives Gideon more courage and he led his men to attack the Midianites. In the end, God gave Gideon a victory against the Midianites(Judges 6-8).

Barak

Barak doubted in God and would not go into war unless Deborah accompanied him. Deborah warned him that the honor of killing Sisera will fall into a hand of a woman if she accompany him but he didn’t care. Barak did fought and defeated Sisera and his army. However, it was Jael, the wife of Heber who killed Sisera. It happened that Sisera came to Jael’s tent while escaping from Barak. Sisera laid down in the tent and asked for something to drink. Jael gave him a skin of milk. Sisera drank and fell asleep. Then, Barak hammered a tent peg into Sisera’s skull (Judges 4-5).

Thomas

Thomas was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. He doubted that Jesus had resurrected. He would not believe unless he saw the nail marks on Jesus’ hands and put his finger where his nails were and thrust his hand into his side. After 8 days, Jesus appeared again with his disciples. This time, Thomas was with the disciples. Jesus let Thomas to put his finger on him, see his hands and put his hands on his side. Then, Thomas believed that Jesus Christ had really resurrected from the dead. However, Jesus said blessed are those who believe even when they have never seen him before (John 20:24-29).

Everyone will face problems in life (John 16:33). You should pray and seek God’s help when you have problems (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; Ephesians 6:18). You must not doubt in God’s ability to help you solve your problem (Romans 14:23; James 1:6-8; Genesis 3). After praying, You must not declare with a negative attitude that your problem won’t be solved. You must keep on thanking God in all circumstances until your problem is solved (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20).