Wrestling with Doubt Finding Faith

by Adam Hamilton

Does your faith make room for questions?

Everyone has doubts. Where is God when bad things happen? Does God hear our prayers? Is there a heaven? How can we know? Often we treat such questions as the enemy of faith. But uncertainty doesn’t mean our belief is lacking. Doubt can be a path to a deeper, richer encounter with God.

In Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith , join best-selling author and pastor Adam Hamilton as he discusses some of our most significant sources of doubt and shows how a steady trust in God can emerge from them. You will delve into questions

“Does God exist? How can I know?”
“Is the Bible true?”
“Why do prayers go unanswered?”

Hamilton approaches these sources of doubt with honesty and insight, drawing on the rich wisdom of the Bible, Christian tradition, and his experience walking with thousands of people on their spiritual journey. Whether you’re a longtime Christian or someone brand new to faith, this book will lead you to a trust in God that is unafraid of hard questions. Wrestle with doubt and find faith―belief and trust, not certainty; mystery rather than simple answers.

The book can be used anytime throughout the year and can be read alone, used by small groups, or as an outreach gift for visitors. Components include a comprehensive Leader Guide, a six-session DVD featuring Adam Hamilton (with closed captioning), and a digital worship and sermon series, making this perfect as a group study and churchwide program done throughout the year.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Church, Spirituality

176 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2023

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading for discussion with church men's group. Strange thought repeated twice in first chapter about the existence of God: "Jesus believed in God." Uh, yeah.

Don't think I was the intended audience for this book.

Missed the discussion of the final chapter on suffering. Might go back and reread that and then write a full review. Or not.

[Haylee Matecko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really appreciated the perspectives the author brought in this book. It captured a lot of questions I’ve struggled with to the forefront and offered a new way of thinking about their answers. I particularly liked the acknowledgement that having doubts can lead to learning more- rather than shying away.

Would recommend for anyone who’d like to learn more about the Christian faith!

[Debbie Babbage · Rating 5 out of 5]

During this season where doubt is everywhere, doubt about faith is right up there near the top. Pastor Hamilton handles these top questions about faith very straight forward, and easier to understand. I’m doing it as a Lent study, but it was so good, I read right through it.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book examining the questions that many Christians and non-Christians struggle with - is there a God, why is suffering allowed, what about unanswered prayers, do non-Christians go to hell, is there a heaven, and is the Bible true? I appreciated the examples Hamilton provides (stories of others and himself) as well as the Scripture references. It's an especially important book as it affirms to Christians and non-Christians that it's okay to ask questions, have doubts, struggle with these and other tough subjects and that none of that doubt, struggle, or questioning makes you a bad person, a bad Christian, or unfaithful.

[Kaitlin Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful I had to read this for work this week. It gives so many great explanations for questions I have surrounding my faith. Will definitely be returning to it!

[Kerrie Highley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot from reading this book. I struggle with some of the things that I have been taught in my faith journey. The topics covered are some that many people struggle with and question. From talking about inconsistency in the Bible, who is going to Heaven, unanswered prayers, and why do the innocent suffer. There are some intriguing ways to work through these doubts and issues. I highly recommend reading this book if you are struggling with your faith.

[Ramarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book I've read by this mega-church Methodist pastor and probably my last...doesn't really go deep enough into how he arrived at his views, and uses more anecdotes than needed. I read it as part of a 6-week small group at church and, in that it allowed for us to have some really constructive dialogue, I gave it a second star.

[Kara Stoltzfus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, and after hearing the introduction, I thought I would. However, the next chapters brought more confusion than clarity to me, and I simply could not agree with the majority of his claims. He tried to refute the position of biblical inerrancy and is squishy on a lot of other doctrines that are foundational to my faith. That being said, I did appreciate his input on the purpose of doubt, and a few of his thoughts on prayer and the purpose of suffering.

[Megan Helmbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BEST book about faith I have ever read. I am super literal. Faith is hard. Particularly when faced with hard things (like brain tumors). But Hamilton gives us permission to doubt while telling the reader why he believes. In times of severe weather events, diseases, pre-mature death - he covers it all. Highly recommend to my Christian friends or those who used to have faith. Hamilton may sway you back closer to God.

[John Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm... several times in this short book, Hamilton wrote that we can "choose to believe _______. " Is that the case? William James wrote about how we can will to believe, but it seems belief is something that happens to us. I can hope or want something to be true--but if no evidence can be provided--if it cannot be verified or falsified, then it doesn't seem I can just choose to believe it. I can choose to remain in a tradition that affirms a collection of doxastic assertions--some of these beliefs I can say are probable or improbable, some are beautiful and others are repugnant, some may even seem highly likely, and others obviously false, but I cannot regain a child like faith--that simply accepts things are true on authority.
I can choose to live as if some of it may be true, and remain in communion with those who still have this childlike trust in the groundless claims from the church, bible, and tradition.
I can choose to hope. Was Jesus raised from the dead, and will Jesus return? I don't know. How could I? I can hope He was and that He will establish the Kingdom of God, I can say maybe, even though abductive reasoning no longer leads me to think this is likely.

Possibly what Hamilton is getting at is that it is precisely in these areas that are beyond argument or proof, that I am free to at least hold it as a possibility. If someone told me that Martin Luther had a birthmark in the shape of Texas on his left butt cheek, and the best "evidence" he can give me for the claim is that he heard it from someone, who heard it from someone. I suppose in the utter absence of evidence for or against, and I can choose to put this claim in the maybe (though highly unlikely) department of my brain. Is that all Hamilton is asking? Or does he think, I for example, could by the act of the will, believe Luther had this birthmark on his left butt cheek? Does Hamilton feel like he is able to truly believe baseless assertions?

So many aspects of the Christian creed cannot be established through reason--so the only grounds for believing them is trust in some authority--but the men of God, the bible, and the church are a mixed bag, and we do not have any direct line to God.
I suppose Hamilton, by belief, can simply mean faith. My understanding of faith is that it can exist without belief. If I have not met someone, but hire them for a service and give them money in advance, with the expectation of their performing this service, I am putting my faith in them--though I have no belief one way or the other on their trustworthiness and expertise. But the lack of belief does temper faith.

[Joe Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Hamilton has quickly become one of my all-time favourite authors. His profound insights about God and the world are presented in a remarkably clear and accessible way. He has a knack for dealing with sensitive and controversial topics in a considerate and informed way.

As an aspiring author myself, I admire the way that Adam shares his wisdom about life and faith in a way that is enticing without being pushy or forceful.

In this particular book, Adam Hamilton deals with the topic of doubt which gets a bad rap in certain Christian circles. For many, doubt is the opposite of faith. But Adam shows how this is not the case and how our doubts can lead us to ask healthy questions that actually lead us to a deeper faith. My personal experience supports this hypothesis and Adam was able to put many of my personal thoughts on this topic into one coherent argument.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like they have outgrown the faith that they were handed as a child and who are facing some difficult questions about God, the world and a life of faith. It is ideally suited to those who have doubts or struggles with institutionalized religion but are not willing to give up on their faith just yet.

[Mike Sennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The church that I attend used this book for a church-wide Lenten study. Its key premise is that "doubt and questioning are not the enemy of faith, but often a path to a deeper and more authentic faith." From this statement in the introduction, Hamilton, a well-known Methodist pastor, goes on to examine a variety of questions that are sources of doubt for both Christians and non-Christians. The topics include why do good people suffer, does God answer our prayers, and troubling Biblical passages. In each chapter, he examines the questions and doubts and provides alternative ways to consider these topics that steer clear of the common dogmatic, fundamentalist answers that make many (including me) uneasy. I recommend this book for Christians (or seekers) who want to examine their faith and perhaps deepen it through that process.

[Cassandra Pitchford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book for a church group. I was very excited and hopeful that this book would answer some questions that I have been struggling with in my walk with Christ. I'm going to be completely honest and say that this book made me question a lot of things. I'm not really sure how I feel about a lot of the topics that were discussed. I will say author did a great job with making me think deeper about my relationship with Christ. As well as a lot of the things I had been taught. I don't think a new believer should read this book, I definitely feel like this book is for someone that is more seasoned in their walk with Christ.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Doubt is not only natural, it is healthy, provided it spurs us to further reflection & a search for what is true."

"Through my faith in Christ I have come to believe that the painful, difficult, & challenging things in life do not have the final word & that God can redeem them & bring something good from them."

This book hit me hard in each chapter as they were all questions I have always struggled with... especially the last chapter - "Why Do the Innocent Suffer?" I could not reconcile the suffering that I see on earth with the loving God that I know.

[Haylee Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

really really amazing work and encouragement but he lost me at the end. i don’t think you can just say that god doesn’t cause suffering if you believe he is the creator of heaven and earth. everything is created and ultimately ��caused” by him. i have always believed that we don’t have answers to everything in this lifetime and we weren’t meant to. i feel like saying “god doesn’t cause cancer” for example is like trying to put a bandaid on a bullet hole. it’s a weak explanation. not that i have a better one lol

[Maia Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciate Hamilton's theology (he is a United Methodist, after all) I can't say I loved his writing. It's accessible to all but a bit...I don't know...dry? I just didn't find it to be the most compelling or engaging.

The content was solid. Fairly surface level, but a good reassurance and explanation of some of the many doubts people (myself included) have about faith and Jesus and Christianity and the whole shebang, really. I could see it being a comfort when doubt rears its head or a good introduction for the curious.

[Gilbert C. Hanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It came to me when I needed it the most....

I have read several books by this author. All have been a challenge for me. This book came to me as I am dealing with some unwanted changes in my health . I am also grieving the death of my oldest brother. Thank you for this message I really needed.

[Johnathan Nazarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was great. Doubt isn't evil and can help build greater faith when you ask the right questions and search for the truth. There were a few moments that were good. In the end, he has a low christology, neo-orthodoxy, liberal theology, and heterodoxy. Lacks apologetic qualities and never truly answers the proposed questions. I generally have liked Hamilton's books. This is the exception.

[Craig Laughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. The author explores some of the most difficult topics in Christianity. He handles these questions with both deep theological reflection and real-world explanations while avoiding falling into simplistic traps.

[Priscella McMann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was to be done as a study during Lent. Could not wait to finish. A great follower of Adam Hamilton and this book did not disappoint..A great study for both believers and non believers! Highly recommend!

[Kim Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of Adam Hamilton's great books to help us understand the many complicated things in the bible and our faith. I love his nonjudgemental message that it's ok to question and that Christianity doesn't have to be a one size fits all religion.

[Sherri Sholund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a Lenten book study at my church. I appreciated the approach. It lead to interesting discussions. Because none of us know the answer to the questions, no one was right or wrong. It was interesting to hear everyone's perspective.

[Emily Lothspeich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to read as part of a study to discuss with other people. I appreciated the questions it presented and encouraged the reader to think deeply about. Our church has also been using it as part of the current sermon series which is neat to see applied as well.

[NancyInWI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book whether you are a long time Christian or a person who is feeling a tug and wants to learn more about God and Jesus Christ. Wrestling with doubts is OK! It just might lead you to a new life!

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well thought out and easily digested book on some challenging issues that create doubt. In typical Adam Hamilton fashion, the issues are addressed seriously, scripturally, and with sensitivity to contrary opinions.

[Rebecca E Mentzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book went along with a DVD that our small group used for six gatherings over the last 3 months. It led to some great discussions. We love Adam Hamilton's approach to many faith topics. This one was an assurance that we can question things without losing our faith.

[Jennifer Jue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Adam Hamilton's "Wrestling with Doubt" holds so many deep theological topics: heaven and hell, salvation, resurrection, God's love and grace, and the theological questions are probing too. We read this book as a group study with the video and the discussions were deep.

[John Dembeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking work but needs discernment for it’s content. The author jumps back and forth between reverence for the Word and viewing it in light of culture. He sights movies and Christian authors fictional works to interpret biblical passages.

[Sharon Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Adam Hamilton is inspiring, challenging, helpful, and topical. This is a book for seekers or believers and I recommend it without hesitation.

[Karen P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would not have chosen to read this on my own. My Sunday School class selected it. I mostly appreciate the way Adam Hamilton wrote about suffering in the last chapter.