This is the fourth blog in my series, The Jude Appeal; written with the hope that we will be a renewed generation of Christians who turn their hearts to pen stories with God!

Just after Jude’s wonderfully encouraging, personal words in verses 20-21, he turns our focus outward. To how we act, speak, or write to the people around us.

“Be merciful to those who doubt” (Jude vs. 22).

It’s important to define the elements of this verse based on its original language.

First, merciful. It is the root Greek word eleos.¹ It means, “to succor one afflicated or seeking aid.”

Since succor isn’t widely used in America, I’ll offer a definition for that one, too. It means, “to render support, enablement, aid, and strength.”

Second, doubt. It is the Greek diakrinō,² which means “to withdraw from one, desert him.”

Christians and non-Christians may doubt, withdraw from us. Whatever the reason, the imperative is to render support, enablement, aid, or strength to them.

How might this look practically in our stories?

Consider the example of Jacob in Emily’s Hope (by Jill Dewhurst). He was a doubting one. Four things were provided toward the back half of the story that aided him toward faith in God.

1) Fist fight with a brother

Most of us wouldn’t see a fight as merciful. Yet, recall Jacob-Israel from the Bible; God wrestled with him, so that in the end He might bless Jacob. God is merciful and He did not become less so because He wrestled with man. (See Genesis 24-30 and Deuteronomy 4:31.)

Some of us need to wrestle with our doubts, maybe even against the One we are doubting. In Emily’s Hope, for Jacob to be able to wrestle, punch, and lose to his older brother aided him. He later said that a broken nose saved him from a broken soul. It was a wake-up call to his doubt in God.

2) A parable

In this case, an older man spoke the parable Jesus gave of the Lost Sheep. It offered encouragement to the afflicted one, supporting him with truth to go a few more steps, despite the struggle.

3) A checkers match

Another older brother, Tim, challenged him to a checkers match, which opened the relational doors. It was something they did often and Jacob usually won. So, with the game between them, Tim had the opportunity to challenge Jacob spiritually. His words (again Scripturally based) enabled Jacob to see where his true problem lay.

The key was not only citing Scripture, but asking questions to give the doubting one a voice. God asks questions, because He wants to hear us and to give or affirm to us the truthful answer.

4) The Gospel

Finally, a brother proclaimed the Gospel (Christ, the crucified and risen Savior for the redemption of our souls) when Jacob was seeking Him. It strengthened the dawning of faith to a declaration!

You can be quite creative in the way you give support, enablement, aid, and strength to the afflicted and seeking ones! You may not have a character who doubts in your book, but through other story elements, you can still speak to the readers. The premise (or theme) of our books ought to be bolstered with Biblical mercy, no matter how it plays out with the storyline.

Underneath every plot twist, dialogue, and character develpoment, must be the strong pillar of God’s Scriptures.

Is your book merciful to those who doubt?