Don’t Let Skepticism Blind Your Faith: A Lesson from the Life of Jesus
Recently, I watched a short film on the life of Jesus, and one scene in particular moved me deeply. It was the moment when the woman with the flow of blood touched Jesus’ garment and was made well (Luke 8:43-48). Immediately after, Jesus brought a young girl back to life, to the astonishment of everyone around Him (Luke 8:49-56). These two events were nothing short of miraculous, a testimony to Jesus’ divinity and power.
Later in the film, three women were discussing these events. One was filled with excitement and faith, convinced that Jesus was the Christ. The other two were skeptical, dismissing these miracles as either coincidence or trickery. They tried to convince the one who believed that she was being naive.
As I watched this unfold, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness and a bit of fear. I saw myself in those skeptical women, and it frightened me. How many times have I let doubt cloud my faith? How many miracles have I possibly overlooked or explained away because I was too skeptical?
It’s sobering to realize how easily skepticism can creep into our hearts, causing us to miss the truth standing right in front of us.
A Warning from Scripture
The Bible warns us about the dangers of hardened hearts and spiritual blindness. In Hebrews 3:12, we are told, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Skepticism is not just an innocent doubt; it can grow into a heart that turns away from God’s truth, no longer able to recognize His hand at work.
Jesus Himself encountered this kind of skepticism many times during His ministry. After performing miracles in His hometown, people still didn’t believe in Him, saying, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13:55). They reduced Jesus to something familiar and ordinary, missing the extraordinary truth about who He was. Mark 6:5-6 even tells us that “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” This verse shows that skepticism can limit the work God wants to do in our lives.
Faith Over Skepticism
It’s easy to look at stories like this and think, “I would never doubt Jesus if I had seen those miracles.” But the truth is, we often do. We may not see Jesus physically walking among us, but we witness His miracles in other ways—through answered prayers, unexpected blessings, or even the quiet peace that comes during trials. Yet, how often do we explain away these moments of grace as mere coincidences, or worse, miss them altogether because we’re looking through the lens of doubt?
In James 1:6-8, we are reminded that “the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind... Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Relying on God's wisdom while also seeking guidance from another source can result in being divided in thought and uncertain in action. Faith is about trusting even when things seem impossible or when we don’t have all the answers.
The woman with the flow of blood didn’t need proof—she simply believed. She said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed” (Mark 5:28). Her faith was enough. But how often do we, like the other two women in the story, demand explanations, logic, and proof before we believe?
Missing the Truth
Jesus warned that the truth is sometimes hidden from those who are wise in their own eyes: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25). Skepticism is often rooted in pride—a belief that we know better, that we need to have everything figured out. But faith requires humility. It requires us to admit that we don’t know everything and that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
I don’t want to be like those women who tried to dismiss Jesus’ miracles. I don’t want my skepticism to cause me to miss the truth, to overlook the miracles happening right in front of me. The thought of living a life where I reject God’s truth simply because I’m too proud or skeptical to see it is heartbreaking.
Faith in Today’s World
In today’s world, skepticism is often seen as a virtue, a sign of intelligence and discernment. And while it’s important to be discerning, we must be careful that our skepticism doesn’t turn into a barrier that blocks our faith. We live in a culture that constantly questions and doubts, where faith is often ridiculed as naive. But Jesus calls us to a childlike faith—a faith that trusts, hopes, and believes, even when we don’t have all the answers (Matthew 18:3).
Let us not allow skepticism to blind us to the miracles God is performing in our lives. Instead, let’s approach Him with humble, believing hearts, ready to see His hand at work in ways we never imagined.
As I reflect on this film and the scriptures, I’m reminded of how fragile our faith can be if we allow skepticism to take root. We must guard our hearts against the kind of doubt that can ruin our faith and cause us to miss the truth. Let’s hold on to faith like the woman who touched Jesus’ garment, believing that He can and will do what He promises.
