Faith in the Face of Doubt

Wrestle and Embrace: Trusting God Through Doubt

Scripture References

Primary text

• Habakkuk 1:2
• Habakkuk 2
• Habakkuk 3

Other references

• Revelation 4
• Revelation 5

Overview

Craig Groeschel opens his new series from the book “The Benefit of Doubt” by giving us permission to bring honest questions to God. Using the prophet Habakkuk, he shows that real faith is not the absence of doubt but the decision to keep wrestling with—and embracing—God when life feels unfair. Doubt can become a doorway to deeper, sturdier trust.

Main Points

1. When Faith Collides with Questions

• All of us eventually move from “full of faith” to a moment that makes us ask, “God, where are You?”
• Pastor Craig’s own example: in 2017, just before preaching, an unexplainable wave of doubt hit him—proof that even leaders can feel paralyzing uncertainty.
• Typical gut-level questions: “If God is good, why do I hurt so much?” “If God is powerful, why doesn’t He fix this?”
• Real faith is not denying these questions; it is voicing them to God.

2. Habakkuk: A Blueprint for Honest Prayer

• Context: late 7th-century BC Judah—violence, corruption, idol worship, and looming Babylonian invasion.
• Habakkuk’s complaint (1:2-4) models transparent lament:

  “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen?”

• God’s shocking reply: He will use the dreaded Babylonians as an agent of justice.
• Key lesson: Faith and frustration can coexist.

3. The Name That Holds the Tension

• “Habakkuk” in Hebrew carries a double idea: to wrestle and to embrace.
  • Wrestle: question, struggle, push back.
  • Embrace: cling, trust, refuse to let go.
• Both motions use the same arms—different emotion, same God.

4. Three Movements in the Book

1. Chapter 1 – Wondering: No miracle, no answer, just questions.
2. Chapter 2 – Waiting: Silence stretches; God is still working even when unseen.
3. Chapter 3 – Trusting: Tone shift to bold worship (“Shigionoth”)—praise punctuated with exclamation marks.

5. Shigionoth Worship

• Musical direction meaning a wild, passionate, rapidly paced song of unwavering trust.
• Craig’s paraphrase: praise that ignores circumstances and clings to character.
• Habakkuk 3:17-18 embodies it:

  “Though the fig tree does not bud… yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

6. Our Two False Options—and a Better Third

• FALSE 1: Deny your faith (“God didn’t show up; I’m out”).
• FALSE 2: Deny your questions (stuff them down, fake a smile).
• BETTER: Doubt and keep seeking. Ask hard questions while moving toward God, not away.

7. Craig’s Personal Resolution

• He prayed under his breath, walked to the pulpit, preached Jesus anyway.
• As he spoke, doubts faded and faith deepened—not because emotions changed, but because truth anchored him.

Key Truths

• Doubt isn’t the enemy of faith; it can be the pathway to deeper faith.
• God would rather we yell at Him than walk away from Him.
• Waiting seasons do not equal God’s absence; He works in hidden ways.
• Faith is often found not in having answers but in refusing to let go of God.
• Shigionoth worship praises God for who He is, not for what we see.

Response

• Bring your raw questions to God in prayer this week.
• Read Habakkuk 1–3 aloud, noting where you are—wondering, waiting, or trusting.
• Choose a personal “Shigionoth” song or Scripture and declare it daily, even if feelings lag.
• Encourage a friend wrestling with faith; listen without correcting, then point them back to God’s character.
• Replace silence with honest journaling—write both the wrestle and the embrace.

Closing

Craig ends by reminding us that Jesus Himself wrestled in Gethsemane—“If there’s any other way… yet not My will.” The cross and resurrection prove God’s faithfulness even when circumstances scream otherwise. Hold on to Him in your chapter 1 and chapter 2 moments, because chapter 3 worship is coming.

“Sometimes real faith isn’t found in having all the answers but in not letting go of God.”

Prayer

Father, many of us don’t understand what You’re doing. We confess our confusion and at the same time choose to cling to You. Build our faith in the tension—teach us to wrestle honestly and embrace You deeply. For friends walking away, draw them back. For hearts breaking, hold them close. We believe You are always good and always near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.