Is It Okay to Doubt God? Constance Hastings on Faith, Fear, and The Trouble with Jesus

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Connect with Constance Hastings at https://constancehastings.com/

Is it okay to doubt God?
What if faith doesn’t come easily—or neatly?
And what does following Jesus look like when life is full of fear, trouble, and unanswered questions?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Constance Hastings, author of The Trouble With Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away, about the honest intersection of faith, doubt, fear, and God’s grace.

Constance shares her personal journey from an unconventional upbringing into a life shaped by calling, compassion, and grace—and why doubt didn’t push her away from faith, but deeper into it.

Together, they explore:

• Common misconceptions about faith and what belief actually requires
• Why doubt is not the opposite of faith, but often part of a living one
• How fear distorts our image of God—and how grace restores it
• What love and empathy really look like in the way Jesus lived
• And how churches can better support people who feel unsure, skeptical, or spiritually tired

They also reflect on how Jesus Himself faced trouble, suffering, and misunderstanding, and what His responses teach us about courage, honesty, and trust.

This episode is for anyone asking:

• “Am I a bad Christian for questioning?”
• “Why does faith feel harder than it’s supposed to?”
• “Where is God in suffering and uncertainty?”
• “Is there room for me if my faith doesn’t look like everyone else’s?”

If you’ve ever felt like faith was more complicated than you were told—or wondered whether grace still applies when life is messy—this conversation offers a freeing reminder: grace doesn’t remove trouble, but it expands our lives with meaning, love, and unexpected adventure.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:23 Constance Hastings' Faith Journey

05:43 The Trouble With Jesus: Book Insights

10:51 Understanding Love and Empathy

12:55 Faith, Doubt, and Fear

19:37 Creating a Safe Space for Doubt in Church

27:04 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb