How do you handle when your kids question faith?

3w ago1 min read

My 13yo came to me with a ton of doubts about God and the Bible and honestly I panicked a little. My instinct was to shut it down but my wife reminded me that faith that survives doubt is stronger faith. So we sat down and I told him my doubts too. Real talk about stuff I struggle with. We didnt have all the answers but we searched for them together. Hes not suddenly a believer again but hes thinking about it and asking good questions. I think being real about the journey instead of pretending I have it all figured out helped more than anything.

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Comments(3)

NNolan D.Regular2w ago

I'd suggest listening more than defending right now. At 13 he's working through a lot and if you panic or shut him down, he'll just stop talking to you about it. My 12yo did the same thing last year and when I actually engaged with his questions instead of getting defensive, we had some really good conversations.

LLuke M.Regular2w ago

Don't panic, man. Doubt is part of faith. I grew up in a household where questioning got shut down and I spent years angry about it. Give your kid space to think this through with your support, not against your resistance.

MMikeRegular2w ago

This is such a big moment. My oldest started asking these questions around the same age and I realized I didn't have to have all the answers figured out. Asking questions about faith is actually healthy. Maybe frame it as him thinking deeper instead of doubting? Let him know you're in this together.