Conquering Doubt with Discernment

The internet is a strange place. Filled with all sorts of information, it’s possible to get lost for days in the vast chasm of witty memes, Instagram food photos, and stark news articles proclaiming the fall of western civilization. In this chaotic landscape of data all is not what it seems, and we can easily grow dubious.

“Is that really an epically muscular guy picking up a car?” “Did she actually cook a meal using nothing but a matchstick, a cotton swab, and a tin can?”

We all know that a lot of Internet content is fabricated for ulterior motives. Whether someone is trying to convince the world of astounding weightlifting “gains” through a clever photo filter or a news columnist is attempting to sway readers to his or her perspective, people manipulate what they post. Naturally, doubt enters the picture, which is healthy to a degree. We wouldn’t want to believe everything we read or see.

The Doubt Reflex

But what happens when doubt becomes our only worldview? It’s a security mechanism, something that keeps us safe from harm. So, what’s the problem with using doubt as a lens through which to understand the world around us?

Over time, doubt can interfere with our ability to see events for what they are. Instead of attempting to remain neutral and form a conclusion based on fact, doubt steps in and we can jump to hasty, cynical judgments about what we read, see, or hear. In turn, this impedes our decision making, resulting in undesirable outcomes.

Not sure your college advisor knows what she’s talking about? You could end up selecting the wrong class based solely on your skepticism. Questioning your boss’s decision making? You choose to do the opposite and others have to pick up the slack for you, leading to a very angry manager. Deep-seated doubt can turn simple decisions into disasters.

Cutting Off Good Advice

Let’s take this a step further. Lingering doubt leads to mistrust of friends and family. Instead of listening to good advice or helpful suggestions, we take it personally: “You don’t think I can handle myself? Do you really think I’m that immature?” “You don’t know what I’m going through, so how can you give me advice?”

Going on the defensive alienates others. Without outside input or a clear lens through which to view events, we’re left fending for ourselves. Solomon warns of the peril of cutting off others:  “It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 MSG).

So what’s the answer to doubt? Do we go around trusting every stranger we meet? Or blindly believe everything we see on Facebook? It’s quite simple, really. 

Learn Discernment

Discernment is a powerful tool we can employ to ensure that there’s a healthy balance between the extremes of blind trust and overwhelming doubt. It means evaluating everything we see, hear or read with as little bias as possible.

Unfortunately, bias is a natural reaction. We need to critically examine the information presented to us without automatically becoming skeptical of everything. For example, if your economics professor tells you that she feels you aren’t putting enough effort into class, don’t just smile, nod, and then passive-aggressively post a sarcastic tweet about her physical appearance. Instead, think about the words she used and see if they have a grain of truth to them.

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding,” (Proverbs 17:27 ESV).

A “cool” spirit means that you don’t throw up walls of doubt to ensure you feel justified. Examine what’s presented for truth, if any, then decide how to proceed.

Verify

Discernment requires proving for ourselves what is, and isn’t, true. The best way to dispel doubt is to consult verifiable sources that can give us insight into what we’re trying to understand.

Let’s look again at how to respond to the nitpicking economics professor. If, after acknowledging your bias and with further consideration you feel that you have been putting in the necessary time and effort for class, then you need to seek a second, or third, opinion. Consult with others who are familiar enough with your life to see if they agree or disagree with your conclusion. Lay out all the circumstances, and explain to them how you feel, then listen to their advice. Nine times out of ten you’ll get great feedback.

Get wise counsel and advice from solid people, but also search the Bible. The Bereans put this into practice when Paul proclaimed the gospel to them: “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so,” (Acts 17:11 ESV). Also, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed,” (Proverbs 15:22 ESV).

Notice that they didn’t respond with derision or make fun of Paul’s credentials. They wanted to prove whether or not Paul was telling the truth, so they consulted a trusted source without bias, the Scriptures.

Demolish Doubt

God’s word has a lot to say about banishing doubt and encouraging discernment. By using the Bible as our source of proving what is, and isn’t, true, we’re inviting a Being who is truth to help us develop understanding. (Read John 17:17 if you want to prove it for yourself…go ahead, look it up!) God wants to help us successfully navigate the world around us, and He will do so if we ask for His guidance and read His word.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work,” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV).

Doubt is encouraged in the world as a way to examine everything and everyone. This can lead to the destruction of relationships, deep-rooted skepticism of events and an overwhelming sense of distrust of all things.

Instead of giving in to doubt, we can use discernment to evaluate what we perceive without bias and verify the truth of things through trusted sources, including the Bible. With God’s help, we can effectively use the tool of discernment to better understand the complex society in which we live.

Joe Bernard