Moving Beyond Doubt
Introduction
For many of us, our times of doubt can feel like weakness. And doubt can take many forms—doubting God, doubting the love of our family and friends, and, the most dangerous of all, self-doubt. Although doubt is part of the way we try to make sense of life and its mysteries, we can become mired in it and lose sight of the wonderful things around us. In this way, doubt can become a heavy, dark cloud that obscures the light of the sun, casting shadows upon everything we do, believe, and feel.
It’s important to remember, however, that doubt is just one aspect of human experience, and it certainly isn’t a state in which we have to remain. The poet Khalil Gibran reflected that “doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.” And it is true. Faith is the antidote for life’s doubts—the wind that blows away the grey clouds, allowing the light to shine again on us and in us. And, just like we can doubt God, others, and ourselves, we can also nurture our faith in God, others, and ourselves.
My hope is that this book will help you understand the feelings of doubt you have experienced or might be experiencing now. May it help you transition to a place of faith and hope, finding new ways to love yourself, to strengthen the bonds you have with family and friends, and to enrich your relationship with the God who made each of us a unique and wonderful part of creation.