Miracles: How I Went From Skeptic to Believer

“Too good to be true…” That was my sentiment toward miracles. I read about miracles in the Bible, like the oil overflowing for the desperate widow, the legion of plagues besieging the stubborn Pharaoh, the resuscitation of the rotting Lazarus, or the gratuitous healing of the beggar by the disciples. I was astonished by these stories growing up, but perplexed by them as I became older. I started reading books by so-called intellectuals and skeptics, and their perspectives became my consensus—these were fables. I didn’t have an active belief against God, just a passive disbelief in miracles. I knew God was able to do miracles, but I was unsure if He was willing. 

Maybe this is where you find yourself: not sure of the supernatural, let alone the miraculous. Or maybe you’ve lost faith in the God of the miraculous. I want to share three choices that helped guide me to faith in the God of miracles.

1. I CHOSE TO DOUBT MY DOUBTS.

Doubt had snuck into my belief about the world and how God works within it. Before I knew it, the intruder was in my living room and had become a welcomed houseguest. Each unanswered prayer I personally experienced, or tragedy I witnessed others endure became further justification for why this houseguest of doubt should become a resident. My wife and I struggling through two miscarriages only served to confirm my bias. Miracles don’t happen today. That belief became the silent norm. 

That is, until I brought up the belief, or lack thereof, in a casual conversation with one of my friends. He simply responded lovingly yet matter-of-factly. “What good evidence do you have not to believe in miracles?” I realized that I had permitted my doubts to go unchecked and unconsidered. I allowed my doubts to rearrange my furniture without questioning its authority to do so. That’s when I chose to start doubting my doubts, to inspect the foundation and credence for the change of belief. 

An examination of my beliefs revealed that I was walled off against the possibility of miracles. My worldview was wrapped in the solely naturalistic, which precluded the very potential of the miraculous. Yet the very possibility of God existing warrants the possibility of miracles happening. As I started to examine and doubt my doubts, my heart began to be open to what God can do. 

You may be struggling with doubt today, but it doesn’t have to rearrange how you view the world. I want to encourage you to begin to doubt your doubts. Rather than believing all that your doubts have to say or suppressing and repressing those doubts, try examining those doubts with godly community. Seek godly wisdom from others who have examined their faith. 

Silent doubt is the most dangerous doubt, but examined doubt has the ability to be transformed into courageous faith.

2. I CHOSE TO DISCOVER A DEFENSE

The journey of doubting my doubts led me to the realization that just because I don’t currently have an answer for what I believe doesn’t mean there isn’t an answer at all. I just had to discover them. 

Part of what convinced me to believe that miracles were too good to be true was that I found myself in an echo chamber. The only books and articles I read were by individuals who believed the same thing and championed their position without a challenger. However, there are great academic and popular level contenders that make a better case. 

Common misdefinitions for miracles like “Violations of the Natural Law” were so prevalent and hypnotic in my readings that it was eye-opening to discover individuals like Dr. John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University (emeritus), who explained that God’s special divine activity in our world would not violate the laws of nature. What about evidence of miracles happening today? Craig Keener’s incredible book Miracles Today not only laid out compelling arguments for miracles but also shared well-evidenced story after story of miracles happening today.  

Have you taken the time to discover a defense? Try reading Christian theologians, joining a Christ Fellowship class like Alpha, and getting amongst godly men and women who can help you discover the truth. 

There are many wonderful authors and resources out there. Here are some of my favorite resources for discovering a defense: 

• Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig
• Urban Apologetics by Eric Mason 
• Stand to Reason with Greg Koukl

3. I CHOSE TO BE DETERMINED TO DEPEND

When I doubted my doubts, this led to the discovery of a defense, but I ultimately arrived at a deeper trust in God. I hadn’t realized that I lowered my view of God to my experience rather than raising my faith to His ability. I was depending on my own understanding rather than depending on God’s sovereignty and care. The writer of Proverbs encourages us in this way:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting in God means locating our dependence not only in our own limited rationality but in God’s limitless wisdom and perfect nature. He is a good Father. Although we may face tough situations, we can trust God with everything and believe that He is still able to do miracles. As Pastor Todd says, “The place of your greatest disappointment can become the place of your greatest miracle.” 

If you struggle to believe in miracles, try doubting your doubts, discovering a defense for your faith, and determining to depend on God, rather than your own understanding. Choose to take a step today to believe in the miracle-working God that’s too good to not be true.

More Too Good To Not Believe Series Resources