Mother Teresa’s doubt

Atheists abroad are overjoyed with news of Mother Teresa’s crisis of faith. She experienced long periods without sensing God’s presence and at times, even doubted the existence of heaven and God Himself.

Atheists see this as some sort of validation for their position that religion is a fabrication. How quick they are to dismiss the overall impact of Mother Teresa’s life and ministry.

Not to mention the evidence for the resurrection, the existence of objective moral realities and atheism’s inability to provide an explanation for the uncaused first cause.

There is no doubt that the depth and extend of Mother Teresa’s doubt is disappointing and many will use it as an excuse to capitalize on their own doubts.

But we should recognize that doubt can often play an important role in faith.

It’s not to say that having doubts is good. Dealing with doubts, however, can be a powerful way to build faith.
For example, the theory of evolution and that despicable “Da Vinci Code” both attempt to cast doubt on the Bible’s accuracy.

But if we combat such attacks with truth, we find our faith stronger than before. Consider Mark 9:24: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Here the father of the demon-possessed child confessed faith and doubt in the same sentence to the Lord Himself. Once the unbelief was confessed, God could begin to deal with it.

Doubts can be like fears, anxiety or anger. If kept bottled inside, they can do harm. But if dealt with, they can bring healing. That’s why faith should be cognitive as well as emotional and spiritual. So even when we do not “feel” God’s presence, we still know that He is there.

Trevor Davis
Enterprise, Ala.