Doubt Is Rising—And That's Not All Bad
What do you do when your child turns to you with a question you can’t answer? Or worse—when they stop turning to you altogether? It might be about something small, like whether their friend actually likes them. Or something deeper, like Why would God let something so awful happen?
Doubt isn’t just likely—it’s expected. But here's the good news: doubt doesn’t have to be a dead end. In fact, it can be the very soil where resilient, authentic faith begins to grow.
Let’s talk about it.
Doubt Is Normal—and It's Everywhere
In the Celebrate Kids podcast, Dr. Kathy Koch helps parents see what’s actually going on when kids doubt. Spoiler alert: it’s not rebellion. It’s reflection. The world our kids are growing up in is louder, faster, and more opinionated than ever. And it’s full of contradictions.
From school shootings on the news to endless opinions on TikTok, kids are sorting through more information in a day than we did in a month. No wonder they have questions. In fact, Barna Group found that more than half of teens and adults say they’ve experienced significant doubts about their religious beliefs. This isn’t a trend. It’s a reality.
So how do we walk with our kids through it?
The Answer Isn’t Certainty—It’s Relationship
Parents, we don’t need to have all the answers. That might be the most freeing sentence you read today.
What your child needs more than a perfect answer is a safe person. Someone who listens long enough to understand where the question is really coming from. Someone who stays close even when the path winds through confusion.
Listening longer, asking open-ended questions, and admitting when we don’t know creates a sacred space. And in that space, our kids get to see what faith actually looks like—it’s not airtight logic. It’s trust.
The Church Can Be a Lighthouse—But Only If It's Honest
One of the best parts of the podcast is the reminder that the Church isn’t meant to be a museum for the spiritually certain. It’s supposed to be a hospital for the hurting—and that includes doubters.
When churches avoid “tough topics” like gender identity or injustice, kids notice. Silence doesn't feel safe. It feels like avoidance.
But when churches lean in, talk truth, and wrap those truths in grace and compassion, they become what they were always meant to be: a lighthouse in the fog.
Prayer Isn’t a Bandaid—It’s a Bridge
James 5 reminds us, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.” That includes when we’re in the trouble of not knowing what to believe.
Prayer doesn’t erase doubt—it invites God into it.
So when your teen expresses fear or frustration or big questions, one of the best responses is to say, “Let’s pray about that together.” Not to fix it. But to walk through it. With God. With each other.
In This House, We Don’t Fear Questions
Let’s build homes and churches where kids can say, “I’m not sure I believe that,” and hear back, “Thanks for telling me. I’m so glad we can explore that together.”
That’s what forms resilient faith. That’s what builds identity. And that’s what our kids need most.
3 Simple Ways to Engage Doubt with Your Kids
Start by Listening – Ask your child what’s been on their mind lately. Don't jump in with answers—stay curious longer than is comfortable.
Be Honest About Your Own Questions – Share a time you had a doubt and how you handled it. Show them it’s okay to wrestle.
Pray With Them, Not Just For Them – When a question comes up, invite your child to pause and pray together—not for an answer, but for understanding and peace.
Engage the 8 Great Smarts While Exploring Doubt
Word Smart: Journal questions together or write a prayer about your doubts.
Logic Smart: Explore hard questions logically. Research and compare answers from different Christian thinkers.
Picture Smart: Use metaphors and illustrations to help explain spiritual ideas—draw out what belief and doubt might look like.
Music Smart: Listen to worship songs that express struggle and faith, then discuss the lyrics.
Body Smart: Take a walk while talking about hard questions—sometimes movement helps thought.
Nature Smart: Observe nature and reflect on how creation points to a Creator, even when we don't understand everything.
People Smart: Invite your child to talk with a trusted mentor or youth leader about their questions.
Self Smart: Give space for quiet reflection. Encourage your child to notice what they’re feeling and why.
In a world filled with confusion, let’s be families who say: “You’re safe here to question. And you’re not alone.” That’s not the end of faith. That’s where faith begins.