In The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan traces Christian’s sojourn from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, chronicling his many experiences along the way. At one point, Christian and fellow pilgrim Hopeful notice a pleasant meadow that appears to run parallel to the narrow path they’re traveling. Thinking it will ease their difficult journey, they decide to climb over the wall to walk in the meadow.

Initially, all’s well, but soon the storm gathers, the sky darkens, and the rain descends. By morning, they’re completely lost. To make matters worse, they stumble upon Giant Despair, who captures them, beats them, and imprisons them in Doubting Castle, where all hope is lost. After languishing for days, Christian and Hopeful decide to spend the night in prayer. As day breaks, Christian cries, “What a fool am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty? I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that I am persuaded will open any lock in Doubting Castle.”[i] Within moments, Christian and Hopeful are unlocking chains and doors. Free of Giant Despair and Doubting Castle, they scramble back to the narrow way.

All of us struggle with doubt. At times, the struggle begins because of our own carelessness. That was the case with Christian and Hopeful. The path was difficult, and the meadow seemed pleasant. Following the desires of the flesh, they climbed over the wall. We face the same temptation. The Christian journey is difficult, and we can easily compromise in a misguided attempt to make things easier. When we do, doubt is never far behind.

Suffering can also lead to doubt. It comes in many forms: illness, slander, estrangement, opposition, poverty, sorrow, unemployment, pain, abandonment, danger – to name but a few. We desperately want to be free of these things, yet they often persist. There’s no prospect of change and no hope of resolution. Day after day, we feel like a drowning man, simply trying to keep our head above water. A feeling of helplessness takes hold, and doubt follows.

The only key that unlocks the prison cell of such doubt and despair is God’s promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb.13:5). God’s promise of protection nourishes our hope, enabling us to persevere in the midst of the most difficult circumstances.

[i] John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, 1985), 134.