When I Doubt

Amongst those who bear the name Christian, I know that there are two classes of men. One finds it extremely easy to believe all that is said to them in matters of religion. For the other it is extremely difficult. It appears to me that the facility of belief in the first group comes from superstition and superficial thought, while the difficulty in the other comes from excessive reflection. The one never exercises prudence, while the other finds it hard to believe anything at all. So the one will believe many things that are false, perhaps giving more credit to the false than to the true. While the other never believes in the false, but also hesitates to ever accept the truth.

Pondering on this matter, I find that only the Holy Spirit can help both classes of men...While both of them struggle, I believe that they who find it hard to believe anything are in a better position to receive God's Spirit. First, this is because it is easier to recognize the truth than falsehood. Second, whoever believes readily is the more easily deceived. Third, he who easily believes may also live much longer under delusions, such as those in the early church who were converted from Judaism. I am also convinced that he who believes without being taught by the Spirit of God will rely more upon human opinion than upon a personal faith.

However, Christian faith is not based upon hearsay, but upon divine revelation alone. It is this that blesses us and brings us now hope and love. It is this that purifies the heart and it is this that in every way pleases God. May we be enriched with this by God Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord! A man who is tempted to doubt experiences a work of Christian progress. I believe that such temptation originates in a man's desire to believe and to stand firm in his Christian faith. The ungodly are not tempted to doubt, because they neither with nor desire to believe...But Christians have renounced unbelief and they have begun by the grace of the Holy Spirit to accept the pardon which the gospel announces in Christ.

Such are those who have renounced self-justification and have embraced the righteousness of Christ which the gospel offers. But at the same time, they do not yet see clearly all that Christ offers. When such a person begins to doubt, let him counteract such a temptation in the following ways.

In the first place, let one who doubts regard this temptation as evidence of his progress in the Christian life. Let him recognize that had he not wished a desire to believe, he would not be so tempted to doubt. His very distress is indicative of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life.

In the second place, let him argue like this: If this Christian faith that I have were not something spiritual and divine, it would not find me the contradiction that it does find. Let this comfort me.

In the third place, let him also argue thusly: If this Christian faith were not the gift of God, I would not feel such inward new desires to be united with Christ. But these are the very desires I have since embracing Him in faith.

In the fourth place, let him also think like this: If a Christian's faith was not spiritual and divine, it would not give rise to that very tension I experience between faith and doubt.

Finally, let him think like this: If I knew of any alternative that is better than this, or even equal to this, in getting me to appear before the judgment of God, I might have good cause to doubt the truth to which I know cling. But since I see no alternative that is better or equal to it, I have no cause to doubt.

And so in this way, let him be assured that he is on the side to win and not to lose; by persevering in this Christian faith he cannot lose but win. Let him realize that he knows himself to be pardoned through Christ. Since he realizes himself to be dead with Christ, raised again with Christ, and expecting his fullment with Christ, and let these things assure him.

The Christian who desires to accept the righteousness of Christ will be disturbed with suggestions that tempt him to doubt. But let him take a stand here and close the door to those who threaten to assail him. Let him commend himself to God, saying with Hezekiah, "Oh Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me" (Is. 38:14). Let him be sure that God will help him and fulfill what He promised David. "I will deliver him and bring him to honor" (Ps. 91:15).


Juan de Valdes (1498-1541) fled the Spanish Inquisition in 1531 and led a reform movement in Italy. The following is a short extract from his larger work titled, "The Benefit of Christ", and was made available by Shane Rosenthal for Reformation Ink.