Doubt is Not a Detour: Finding the Spirit in the Question Marks

If you’re in the thick of mission prep, preparing for those intense missionary discussions, or even just wrestling with a challenging question during a Book Club session, you might feel it: the weight of doubt. It can feel like a massive roadblock, a sign that we aren't quite 'there' yet.

We often approach spiritual growth, and even the work itself, with a misguided idea of what 'perfection' looks like. We think it needs to be clean, linear, and totally predictable. We want the answers *before* we even ask the question.

But if you’ve been through the trenches—if you’ve been on the other side of the curtain—you know that God's design for us is rarely, if ever, a straight line. It's a process. And processes, by definition, come with question marks.

The recent talk by Addison Bevere about doubt really hit home, reminding me that doubt isn't a failure of faith; it is actually the tension of the in between. It’s the sacred space where we stop trying to figure everything out ourselves and finally surrender to what the Spirit is doing.

The Power of the 'In-Between'

When we talk about being a disciple, we often focus on the big, visible accomplishments: getting the recommend, successfully passing the comps, or having a brilliant testimony ready for every scenario. But the Spirit whispers that the true growth happens in the uncertainty. It happens when you are waiting for the answer, when you are confused by the question, or when you feel like you don't know how you're going to come through.

"Doubt is the tension of the in between... we're called to surrender those doubts not to figure them all out but to surrender them and see what God does in those moments."

This is the single most important lesson for every aspiring and returning missionary. When an investigator asks a question that feels impossible to answer, or when your own testimony feels shaky after a long day of calls, don't panic-search for the perfect, polished answer. Instead, lean into the surrender. Let the doubt be the place where your trust is tested, and where you learn to rely on the Savior's strength.

Perfection is Imperfection

If we take this concept—that 'perfection is imperfection until it's perfected'—and apply it to our discipleship, it changes everything. It means that being a disciple isn't about being flawless. It's about being willing to be messy, to be questioned, to be imperfect, and still showing up with the covenant commitment to keep trusting the process.

This is the heart of being an internet missionary, disciples anywhere, all the time. You don't need to wait until you feel 100% ready, or until you've read all the scriptures, or until you've gotten the highest level of training. You can start right where you are, with the doubt and the questions.

✨ Disciple Challenge: Embrace the Doubt

If you're ready to practice this principle, try a small Disciple Challenge this week. Identify one area of your life—maybe it's a tough relationship, or a scripture passage you struggle with—where you feel doubt creeping in. Instead of running from that feeling, intentionally sit with it. Pray it. Write it down. And then, simply surrender it to the Savior. That act of surrender is the work.

Remember, the process of being a disciple is often more powerful than the destination. Trust the process, my friends. Trust the Spirit, even when it feels like you're standing in the tension of the in between. That's where the miraculous work is done.

Keep the Learning Going

If you want to dive deeper into the mechanics of scripture and personal revelation, I highly recommend checking out the latest resources from the Iron Rod authors, available in LivingBook. We are especially starting a Book Club focused on how to maintain faith through times of uncertainty. Come join us!