Can God Use a Doubter Like Me

The resurrection account in Matthew 28 unfolds as a scene of striking contrasts: power and fear, joy and hesitation, worship and doubt. An angel’s descent, the rolled-away stone, and soldiers rendered as if dead set a dramatic stage for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to find the tomb empty and hear that Jesus had risen. Their fear mixed with joy when the angel confirmed what Jesus had foretold; then Jesus himself met them, prompted worship, and sent them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. The narrative notes that the eleven disciples worshiped him there, yet some still struggled to believe what their senses showed.

This tension—believing while doubting—emerges as a normal human response rather than a disqualifying failure. The resurrection confronts settled assumptions about life and death, so the heart can simultaneously awe and question. The text moves from that moment to the Great Commission: Jesus claims all authority, commands disciple-making across the nations, prescribes baptism and teaching, and promises perpetual presence. Authority and mission rest not on flawless followers but on the risen Lord who empowers imperfect people.

Scripture then provides a pattern: God repeatedly calls those who protest insufficiency—Peter, Moses, Gideon—and uses them despite their doubts, showing that willingness matters more than perfection. Renewing the mind with God’s word recalibrates habitual thinking that resists Jesus’ kingdom ethics. Doubt should drive people to dependence, not paralysis; honest prayer that confesses limited faith, such as “I believe; help my unbelief,” opens the way for grace to work. The practical thrust emphasizes action—obedience to Jesus’ commission, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and steady work of faith—while acknowledging human frailty. The risen Christ does not delay the mission until doubts evaporate; he sends, equips, and remains present until the end of the age. The result calls for both bold obedience and humble dependence: go make disciples, teach what he commanded, and trust that his presence completes what human weakness cannot finish.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Fear and joy can coexist The resurrection produces both trembling and rejoicing because divine power disrupts ordinary categories of experience. Awe at God’s breakthrough can unsettle the soul even as it brings the deepest gladness. Holding both reactions honestly prevents spiritual dishonesty and cultivates a mature dependence on God’s presence. [04:19]
• 2. Doubt doesn't disqualify service The call to mission rested on the risen Lord’s authority, not the disciples’ perfection; some doubted yet still received the commission. God repeatedly summons those who protest their weakness, demonstrating that willingness matters more than flawless faith. This reframes failure: not as final disbarment but as context for God’s grace to show up. [12:05]
• 3. Renew the mind with Scripture Beliefs shaped by culture and habit resist gospel demands, so deliberate exposure to God’s word reshapes thinking. Renewing the mind requires sustained study, prayer, and correction that displaces old patterns with kingdom truths. As thinking changes, life choices and courage to obey follow. [08:54]
• 4. Pray, "Help my unbelief," honestly Admitting fragile faith becomes a vehicle for grace rather than a spiritual embarrassment. The petition combines affirmation and plea—expressing trust while asking God to expand it—and invites active divine intervention. Such prayer turns doubt into a hinge toward dependence instead of resignation. [19:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:27] - Greeting and setup
• [00:49] - Question about doubt
• [01:15] - Reading Matthew 28
• [02:30] - Women encounter Jesus
• [02:55] - Guards' report and cover-up
• [03:24] - Worship mixed with doubt
• [04:19] - Resurrection: power and fear
• [08:33] - Renew the mind with Scripture
• [12:05] - The Great Commission
• [13:20] - Grace uses the willing
• [19:43] - "Help my unbelief" prayer
• [21:09] - Closing and prayer

1. In Matthew 28:8, the women left the tomb “afraid yet filled with joy.” What two contrasting emotions did they experience, and what caused each? [02:14]
2. How did Jesus respond when some disciples doubted even as they worshiped Him (Matthew 28:17)? [03:24]
3. What examples of doubt or hesitation did biblical figures like Peter (Luke 5:8) and the father in Mark 9:24 demonstrate?

1. Why do you think Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to disciples who still doubted? What does this reveal about His priorities? [12:05]
2. How can fear and joy coexist in moments of encountering God’s power, as seen in the women at the tomb? What does this teach us about honest faith? [04:19]
3. The sermon emphasized renewing our minds with Scripture to align with God’s truth. Why is this process critical for overcoming doubts or cultural resistance to Jesus’ teachings? [08:54]

1. Where in your life do you feel both fear and joy (or doubt and worship) right now? How can you bring both emotions honestly to God?
2. What area of your thinking most needs renewal through Scripture (e.g., success, relationships, suffering)? What practical step will you take to immerse yourself in God’s Word on this topic? [08:54]
3. The father in Mark 9:24 prayed, “I believe; help my unbelief.” What specific situation in your life needs this kind of honest prayer? Write it down and share it with a trusted friend this week. [19:43]
4. Jesus sent doubting disciples to “make disciples” anyway. What is one small, actionable step you can take this month to share His love with someone, even if you feel unqualified?
5. Think of a time God used you despite your doubts or failures. How does that encourage you to trust Him with your current limitations?