Breaking the Taboo on a Common Condition

It's a taboo word at times, although thousands suffer from the condition in silence and with unimaginable pain. In history it has been documented although not dwelt on, for fear that its highly contagious nature might infect others and cause untold disruption. It has led to the premature downfall of many, and left others severely disfigured or partially sighted. The real tragedy is that treatment (although difficult and specific to each case) is possible, and often highly successful. I am writing, of course, about Christian doubt. For anyone who has been through the valley, or felt the dark touch of spiritual uncertainty upon their shoulder, the pain and paralysis which it can bring are known only too well. Over the next while on this blog, in a series of short posts, I want to write about doubt, seeking to diagnose the problem and suggest therapies and treatments which may not utterly dispel it, but may at least palliate its symptoms or drive the problem down to a manageable and non-threatening level.

I've held back a little before commencing this series of posts. My reasons for doing so are that talking about doubt can provoke the condition in others, rather than bring balm - and answering questions can sometimes prompt unsuspecting readers or listeners to ask questions. But I personally have been through the experience of deep doubt on a number of occasions in my Christian life, and have learned at least a few lessons about myself, about the solidity of our hope in God, and the profound grace of God in dealing with us gently and reprovingly, to bring us back to a settled sense of His reality and greatness.

And so over the next number of weeks I'll post about doubt. Please do feel free to get in contact if the posts which follow touch on issues which you have faced/are facing - either in the public forum of the comments, or via email (see the contact details in the sidebar).

In the interim as we journey into the dark heart of Christian doubt, please do be assured that there are ways out, and that God can meet you in the midst of uncertainty and fluctuation - breathing His awesome truth and majesty to your doubting heart.