Embracing Doubt: A Journey to Deeper Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Doubt as a Doorway to Deeper Faith

Doubt is not a detour from discipleship, but a doorway to a deeper relationship with Jesus.
When you bring your honest doubts and questions to Jesus, you are not stepping away from faith but stepping toward a more authentic and resilient trust. The story of Thomas, who refused to pretend and instead voiced his need for proof, shows that Jesus welcomes our uncertainties. Rather than shaming Thomas, Jesus meets him right where he is, offering the very evidence Thomas seeks. In this, we see that our doubts can become the very place where Jesus draws near and reveals himself more deeply, transforming skepticism into worship and uncertainty into conviction. [36:27]

John 20:24-29 (ESV)
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Reflection: What is one doubt or question about your faith that you’ve been afraid to voice to God? Can you bring it honestly to Jesus in prayer today, trusting that He welcomes your questions?

Day 2: The Power of Honest Community in Seasons of Doubt

Staying connected to a loving, honest community is vital when wrestling with faith and doubt.
When doubts arise, the temptation is often to withdraw or pretend, but Thomas remained with the disciples even when he struggled to believe. The community did not pressure or shame him; instead, they continued to include him, allowing him to borrow from their faith and hope. In the same way, God often uses the faith of others to sustain us when our own is weak. A safe, grace-filled community can be the place where doubts are voiced, questions are welcomed, and the love of Christ is experienced through others’ patience and presence. [45:15]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Reflection: Who in your life can you be honest with about your doubts? Is there someone you can reach out to this week to share your questions or to encourage in their own faith journey?

Day 3: Jesus Meets Us Personally in Our Doubts

Jesus is not distant or angry in our doubts; He meets us personally and tenderly.
When Thomas finally encounters Jesus, he is not met with rebuke but with an invitation to touch and see for himself. Jesus knows exactly what Thomas needs and responds with compassion, offering His wounds as proof. In our own moments of confusion or pain, Jesus is not threatened by our questions. He invites us to bring our whole selves—doubts included—into His presence, promising to meet us there and reveal Himself in ways that deepen our trust and love. [47:28]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV)
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: When have you sensed Jesus meeting you in a moment of doubt or pain? How might you invite Him to meet you in a current struggle or question today?

Day 4: Faith Is a Journey, Not a Destination

Faith is not a static destination but a lifelong journey of deepening trust, especially through seasons of questioning.
Throughout life, faith is continually shaped and refined by experiences, challenges, and honest wrestling with God. Each time we bring our doubts and struggles to Him, He meets us anew, strengthening our trust and grounding us more deeply in His love. Rather than seeing faith as something we either have or don’t, we are invited to see it as a relationship that grows over time, often through the very questions and uncertainties that once unsettled us. [51:56]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Looking back, how has your faith grown or changed through times of doubt or hardship? What is one way you can take a step of trust in your journey with God this week?

Day 5: Jesus Invites Us to Bring Our Real Selves

God is not distant in our doubts; He invites us to bring our real, unfiltered selves to Him and to one another.
You are not a problem to be fixed but a person to be loved. Jesus welcomes your honest questions, your pain, and your skepticism. The church is called to be a place where people can bring their whole selves—doubts and all—and experience the presence and grace of Christ. As you bring your questions to God and share them with trusted friends or your community, you create space for God to work, for faith to grow, and for others to find courage to do the same. [54:36]

Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV)
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Reflection: What is one question or struggle you’ve been hiding from God or others? How can you take a step toward honesty with God—and maybe with a trusted friend or group—this week?

Sermon Summary

Doubt is a universal human experience, and it often finds its way into our spiritual journeys. Rather than being a sign of failure or weakness, doubt can actually serve as a doorway to a deeper, more authentic relationship with Jesus. Many of us have grown up believing that faith means never questioning, but the reality is that even the most faithful followers of Christ—past and present—have wrestled with uncertainty. The story of Thomas, often called “the doubter,” reminds us that God is not threatened by our questions. When Thomas missed the first appearance of the risen Jesus, he was honest about his skepticism, refusing to pretend or simply go along with the crowd. Instead of being shamed or excluded, Thomas was welcomed by his community and, ultimately, by Jesus himself.

Throughout Scripture, we see that doubt is not an anomaly but a recurring theme among God’s people. Abraham, Sarah, Gideon, John the Baptist, Peter, and even the disciples who saw the risen Christ all experienced moments of uncertainty. These stories are included not to shame us, but to assure us that we are not alone. Our faith is shaped in the context of our lives—through our experiences, our pain, our disappointments, and our questions. When life shakes the foundations of what we thought we knew, we are faced with a choice: to hide our doubts or to bring them honestly before God and our community.

Thomas’s story teaches us the importance of staying connected, even when we’re struggling. He remained with the disciples, borrowing on their faith when his own was faltering. The community didn’t try to argue him into belief; they simply bore witness to what they had seen and loved him through his questions. When Jesus finally appeared to Thomas, he didn’t rebuke him for doubting. Instead, he met Thomas exactly where he was, offering the proof he needed. In that encounter, Thomas’s doubt became the soil for one of the most profound declarations of faith: “My Lord and my God.”

Faith is not a static destination but a journey of deepening trust. Each time we bring our doubts and questions to God, we open ourselves to new encounters with his presence. Jesus invites us, not to suppress our uncertainties, but to bring them honestly to him, trusting that he will meet us in the midst of them. In our community, we are called to create safe spaces for one another’s questions, knowing that God uses our honesty and vulnerability to draw us closer to himself and to each other.

Key Takeaways

1. Doubt is not a detour from faith but can be a doorway to deeper relationship with Jesus. When we bring our honest questions to God, we create space for authentic encounters with him. Rather than seeing doubt as a threat, we can view it as an invitation to grow in trust and intimacy with Christ. [30:27]
2. The community of faith plays a crucial role in our journey through doubt. Like Thomas, we need to stay connected, even when our faith feels shaky. Borrowing on the faith of others and being honest about our struggles allows God to work through the love and witness of our brothers and sisters. [44:15]
3. God is not afraid of our questions or our pain. Jesus meets us in our doubts, not with condemnation, but with compassion and understanding. He invites us to bring our real selves—our fears, disappointments, and uncertainties—into his presence, promising to walk with us through them. [47:28]
4. Faith is shaped in the context of our lived experience, and it is normal for our understanding to be challenged by life’s hardships and unanswered prayers. Each time we wrestle with God in the midst of pain or confusion, we are given the opportunity to encounter him in new and deeper ways. [51:56]
5. Creating a safe space for questions within the church is essential for spiritual growth. When we allow ourselves and others to be honest about doubts, we reflect the grace and patience of Jesus. Our vulnerability can become a conduit for God’s love, drawing us and others closer to him. [55:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:23] - Introduction: Wrestling with Doubt
[29:18] - Personal Confession and the Reality of Doubt
[31:20] - Everyday Skepticism and the Search for Certainty
[33:26] - When Faith and Expectations Collide
[34:24] - Honest Questions We’re Afraid to Ask
[35:37] - The Story of Thomas: Doubt in the Disciples
[38:04] - The Value of Authenticity in Community
[40:01] - Doubt Throughout Scripture
[41:50] - The Challenge of Making Faith Personal
[43:14] - When Life Shakes Our Faith
[44:15] - Staying Connected in Doubt
[45:53] - The Role of Community in Bearing Witness
[47:28] - Jesus Meets Us in Our Doubt
[48:32] - Personal Story: Faith Tested in College
[51:56] - Faith as a Journey, Not a Destination
[53:26] - Jesus’ Invitation in Our Doubt
[54:36] - You Are Welcome Here: Embracing Doubt
[55:56] - A Challenge: Bringing Doubts to God
[56:33] - Experiencing God’s Presence in Worship
[57:57] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 20:24-29 (ESV) — 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Observation Questions

What was Thomas’s reaction when the other disciples told him they had seen the risen Jesus? (John 20:25)
How did Jesus respond to Thomas’s doubts when he appeared to him? (John 20:27)
What was Thomas’s declaration after his encounter with Jesus? (John 20:28)
According to the sermon, how did the other disciples treat Thomas during his time of doubt? [[44:15]]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Thomas have insisted on seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds before he would believe? What does this reveal about his character or his experience? (John 20:25)
The sermon mentions that Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his doubt but met him with compassion. What does this suggest about how God views our questions and uncertainties? [[47:28]]
The disciples did not try to argue Thomas into belief but simply shared what they had seen. What does this say about the role of community in someone’s faith journey? [[45:53]]
The sermon points out that many biblical figures, not just Thomas, experienced doubt. How does knowing this affect the way we view our own doubts? [[40:01]]

Application Questions

The sermon says that doubt can be a doorway to a deeper relationship with Jesus, not a detour. Can you think of a time when your own doubts or questions led you to a deeper faith? What happened? [[30:27]]
Thomas stayed connected to his community even when he was struggling with doubt. When you have questions or struggles, do you tend to withdraw or stay connected? What would it look like for you to “borrow on the faith of others” in a hard season? [[44:15]]
The disciples created a safe space for Thomas to be honest about his doubts. How can our group or church become a safer place for people to share their questions and struggles? What practical steps could we take? [[55:56]]
Jesus met Thomas right where he was and gave him what he needed. What would it look like for you to bring your real questions and disappointments to Jesus this week? Is there something you’ve been afraid to say out loud to God? [[47:28]]
The sermon challenges us to be honest before God and maybe even with a trusted friend or group. Is there a doubt or question you’ve been carrying that you could share with someone this week? What might be holding you back? [[54:36]]
The pastor shared that his faith was shaped through life’s hardships and unanswered prayers. How have your own experiences—good or bad—shaped your understanding of God? [[51:56]]
When someone you know is struggling with doubt, how do you usually respond? What could you do differently to reflect the patience and grace of Jesus? [[45:53]]

Sermon Clips

And not only that, I believe that when we bring our real doubts to Jesus and our honest questions to God, we...it can become for us a path of deeper faith. Now, what if our doubt isn't a detour from discipleship, but if it's a door to a deeper relationship with Jesus? [00:30:36] (26 seconds) #DoubtAsDoorToDeeperFaith

Notice the disciples, they're not trying to argue Thomas into faith. They don't berate him or make fun of him or twist his arm. They're simply bearing witness. This is what we've seen. We believe what we saw was real and we love you, Thomas, and we want you to experience it too. It's the Lord's job to answer Thomas. And ultimately, that's true for all of us as well. We all need some kind of encounter with the risen Lord. We're all asking for a touch from Jesus. [00:46:18] (39 seconds) #ProofTransformsBelief

And that's exactly what Thomas gets. Again, it's one week later and they're gathered together. And then in the middle of that gathering, Jesus just appears, goes through the walls, just shows up in the middle of their group. Suddenly he's there and he speaks directly to Thomas. And he doesn't chastise him for his questions. He doesn't get mad at him. He simply invites him to get his proof. Jesus, the God of the universe, comes to Thomas and says, I love you, and if this is what you need, if this is what it will take for you to believe, here you go. [00:46:57] (46 seconds) #QuestionsWelcomeHere

And if you just can't get past something, if you're profoundly hurt, if you're disillusioned, I want you to know Jesus is not upset or afraid. He can handle it all. And if you're honest with him, he'll meet you right in the middle of it. [00:47:55] (18 seconds) #FaithIsJourneyNotDestination

And each time, each time I brought those to the Lord and I wrestled and I prayed, God showed himself to me in a new way. And my faith grew a little more and a little deeper. Faith is not a destination. It's a journey of deepening trust. [00:52:22] (19 seconds) #GodNearInDoubt

But what if instead of an accusation, we heard it as an invitation? An invitation from Jesus where he grabs the hand of Peter, catches him, pulls him up, and looks into his eyes and says, Oh, Peter, you had this. You were walking on water. Did you see what you could accomplish when you trusted? Let's go back to the boat and you can tell me what got into your head. What if in your doubts and concerns you knew Jesus would grab your hand and catch you and bring you close to him, that he would help you work through your questions and rebuild your trust? What if? [00:53:32] (52 seconds) #HonestPrayerChallenge

And so I want to give you a little challenge this week to be honest before God, to maybe take 10 minutes of prayer, however you want to do it. Maybe you need to write something out. Maybe you need to rehearse it a little bit. But take some time with God and offer up something you've been too scared to say out loud. Let him in on your questions and doubts. But be honest. You don't have to sugarcoat it. And then for extra credit, maybe share that with a trusted friend. And for double extra credit, maybe share it with a life group and see what happens. Maybe you'll tap into other people. You'll create a safe place where other people can share what they need to share. So let's do that this week. Let's see what God does. [00:55:24] (63 seconds)

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