If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this all real?” or feared that your doubts disqualify your faith, you’re not alone—and you’re not a bad Christian.

In this deeply personal episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter shares her raw journey through spiritual doubt, exploring what happened when her mind questioned everything she once believed. From emotional exhaustion to physical symptoms, she reveals how hidden doubt can impact your body—and how God invites us to wrestle, not run away.

Whether you’ve wrestled with intellectual questions, emotional wounds, or spiritual burnout, this episode gives you biblical truth, clinical research, and practical tools to move from fear into faith. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand the 4 types of doubt, how to identify what you’re really wrestling with, and why questioning God can actually be the start of healing—not the end of your faith.

Timestamps

00:00 – My story of doubt: “It’s all made up”

2:05 – The importance of facing doubts and their effects on faith and health

4:05 – Common church and academic responses to questions, and their limitations

8:43 – Discovering the field of Christian apologetics

11:44 – Defining belief, doubt, faith, and certainty

16:42 – Certainty versus doubt and popular misconceptions

18:12 – Why doubt is a valuable step in faith development

20:52 – Tools for building faith: prayer, fellowship, study, and evidence

22:15 – Stories of doubters in Scripture, including Mark 9:24 and Jesus on the cross

26:06 – How unresolved spiritual doubt can manifest in physical health issues

28:38 – Next week’s episode preview: addressing and resolving doubts

Action Steps

• Allow yourself to honestly acknowledge and explore your spiritual doubts without fear or shame.

• Seek out reliable resources, such as apologetics books and trusted mentors, to help answer your questions.

• Engage in transparent conversations with other believers about doubts to break the isolation.

• Understand that doubt is not the opposite of faith, but rather the opposite of certainty, and can be a healthy part of spiritual growth if it’s not ignored but confronted.

• Reflect on how unresolved spiritual unrest might be affecting your physical health and prioritize emotional and spiritual self-care.

Download the free Doubt Diagnostic Tool to help you identify the kind of doubt you may be experiencing: https://forms.gle/rbxADTHo8aQdeGxi7

Citations and Resources

Book Resources

1. Groothuis, Douglas, and Andrew Shepardson. The Knowledge of God in the World and the Word. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2022.
2. Guinness, Os. God in the Dark. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996.
3. Habermas, Gary R. The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.
4. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. 1st ed. New York, NY: Touchstone, 1996.
5. Re Manning, Russell, ed. 30-Second Religion: The 50 Most Thought-Provoking Religious Beliefs, Each Explained in Half a Minute. New York: Metro Books, 2011.

Studies and Surveys

1. Bockrath, Margaret F., Kenneth I. Pargament, Serena Wong, Valencia A. Harriott, Julie M. Pomerleau, Steffany J. Homolka, Zyad B. Chaudhary, and Julie J. Exline. “Religious and Spiritual Struggles and Their Links to Psychological Adjustment: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.” Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 14, no. 3 (2022): 283–299.
2. Pargament, Kenneth, and Julie J. Exline. “Religious and Spiritual Struggles.” Americal Psychological Association. Last modified November 1, 2020. Accessed March 30, 2025. https://www.apa.org/topics/belief-systems-religion/spiritual-struggles.
3. Thagard, Paul. “What is Doubt and When Is It Reasonable?” Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Supplementary Volume 30. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2715794917
4. “Two-Thirds of Christians Face Doubt.” Barna Group. Last modified July 25, 2017. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.barna.com/research/two-thirds-christians-face-doubt/.

Bible Verses

1 Peter 3:15

Romans 12:3

Hebrews 11:1–3

Jeremiah 29:13

Isaiah 1:18

Mark 9:24

Matthew 27:46

John 20:27 –29

Bio and Links

Dr. Tanya Paynter is a naturopathic physician and passionate advocate for the intersection of faith and evidence-based medicine. After a personal journey through spiritual doubt, she pursued a master’s degree in Christian apologetics and now leads conversations to help others revitalize health and renew faith. Dr. Paynter’s unique approach integrates deep theological inquiry with practical clinical wellness, aiming to empower listeners with knowledge, compassion, and truth.

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Email: JesusHeals@psalmmedical.com

Episode Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g4dOp8X8tplm5c87JPYX40mvwRKuxmZ7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111320294319945008592&rtpof=true&sd=true