Embracing Doubt: A Pathway to Deeper Faith
Summary
Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the willingness to bring our questions honestly before God and others. Even when we cannot see or feel God at work, He remains faithful, loving, and trustworthy. The story of Thomas in John 20 reminds us that encountering Jesus—even in our uncertainty—can transform us from the inside out. Thomas, often called “the doubter,” was not rebuked for his questions. Instead, Jesus met him right in the middle of his skepticism, inviting him to touch His wounds and see for himself. This encounter did not just resolve Thomas’s doubts; it led him to a deeper confession of faith: “My Lord and my God.”
Doubt, then, is not the enemy of faith. It is often the evidence of a living, expectant faith that wrestles with the gap between what we believe about God and what we experience in the world. The Christian life is not about having every answer or presenting a polished exterior. It is about pressing into community, being honest about our struggles, and allowing our questions to become doorways to deeper intimacy with Christ.
When we face seasons of doubt, our natural tendency may be to withdraw from others or to hide our questions out of shame. Yet, the call is to press in—to seek out Christian community, to be vulnerable, and to let others carry us when our faith feels weak. The church must be a safe place for honest wrestling, not a place for trite answers or superficial faith. God is not threatened by our doubts; He invites us to bring them to Him, to lament, to pray, and to seek His presence even when we do not understand.
Ultimately, doubt can lead to a more robust, resilient faith if we allow it to drive us toward Jesus rather than away from Him. The resurrection of Christ is the foundation for our trust, even when we cannot see the outcome. In our darkest moments, God’s presence is often most profound, and our places of greatest questioning can become the very places from which we minister to others. The journey through doubt is not a detour from faith—it is often the very path by which God deepens our trust and reveals His love.
Key Takeaways
- Doubt Is Not the Opposite of Faith, but a Pathway to Deeper Trust
Doubt often arises not from unbelief, but from a longing to reconcile our faith with our lived experience. It is a sign that we care deeply about God’s character and promises, even when we struggle to see them fulfilled. Rather than being a threat, honest doubt can be the soil in which a more mature, resilient faith grows. [43:55]
- Christian Community Is Essential in Seasons of Doubt
When doubts arise, the temptation is to isolate ourselves out of shame or fear of judgment. Yet, pressing into community—allowing others to pray for us, believe for us, and walk with us—can be the very means by which God steadies our faith. Sometimes, we need others to carry us until we can once again pray and believe for ourselves. [54:28]
- Honesty Before God and Others Invites Divine Encounter
God honors raw honesty. Like Thomas, when we bring our full selves—questions, pain, and all—into the light, we create space for Jesus to meet us personally. Stagnant, unspoken doubt festers, but doubt that is expressed and wrestled with can become a doorway to encounter and transformation. [57:11]
- There Is a Difference Between Humble Doubt and Hard-Hearted Skepticism
Not all questioning is the same. Humble doubt seeks understanding and is open to God’s revelation, while skepticism is often rooted in mistrust or pride. The prayer, “I believe; help my unbelief,” models a posture that invites God’s help and presence, even when certainty eludes us. [01:06:25]
- The Resurrection Is the Foundation for Faith in Uncertainty
Our confidence in God’s love, power, and faithfulness is anchored in the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Even when we cannot see or feel God at work, we can trust in what He has already accomplished. The journey through doubt, when rooted in this foundation, can lead to deeper worship, greater empathy, and a faith that ministers to others out of its own wounds. [01:13:43]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Way Maker: Faith When You Can’t See
[02:10] - Introduction: The Hurdle of Doubt
[03:30] - Thomas and the Power of Honest Questions
[06:00] - Reading John 20: Encountering the Risen Jesus
[09:00] - The Reality of Doubt Among Believers
[12:00] - Doubt as a Pathway, Not an Obstacle
[15:00] - Personal Stories: Wrestling with Unanswered Prayer
[18:00] - Guidepost 1: Don’t Disappear, Press In
[22:00] - The Role of Christian Community in Doubt
[26:00] - Guidepost 2: Be Honest About Your Doubts
[30:00] - The Church as a Safe Place for Questions
[34:00] - Guidepost 3: Let Doubt Lead to Deeper Faith
[38:00] - The Difference Between Doubt and Skepticism
[42:00] - The Resurrection: Our Foundation in Uncertainty
[46:00] - Practical Encouragements for Seasons of Doubt
[50:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Faith, Doubt, and Encountering Jesus
---
### Bible Reading
John 20:19-29
*(The story of Thomas encountering the risen Jesus)*
---
### Observation Questions
1. When Jesus first appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, what did He say and do to them? (John 20:19-23)
2. How did Thomas respond when the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord? What specific proof did he ask for? (John 20:25)
3. What did Jesus do when He appeared to Thomas eight days later? How did He address Thomas’s doubts? (John 20:26-27)
4. After encountering Jesus, what was Thomas’s response? What did he confess? (John 20:28)
[See [37:05]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus didn’t rebuke Thomas for his doubts, but instead invited him to touch His wounds? What does this reveal about Jesus’s character?
[See [57:11]]
2. The sermon says, “Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Doubt is actually this process of working through uncertainty.” How does Thomas’s story support or challenge this idea?
[See [43:55]]
3. The pastor described the difference between humble doubt and hard-hearted skepticism. What is the difference, and why does it matter in our relationship with God?
[See [01:06:25]]
4. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” What does this mean for us today, who have not physically seen Jesus?
[See [01:13:43]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon shared that our natural tendency in seasons of doubt is to withdraw from community out of shame or fear. When you have experienced doubt, have you tended to isolate yourself or press into community? What would it look like for you to let others “carry you” in a season of weak faith?
[See [54:28]]
2. Thomas was honest about his doubts, even in front of his friends. Is there a question or struggle you’ve been hiding from God or others? What would it look like to bring it into the light this week?
[See [56:09]]
3. The pastor said, “God is not threatened by our doubts; He invites us to bring them to Him, to lament, to pray, and to seek His presence even when we do not understand.” What is one practical way you can bring your doubts to God this week—through prayer, journaling, or another practice?
[See [01:13:43]]
4. The difference between humble doubt and skepticism is the posture of the heart. When you have questions about God, do you approach Him with a desire to understand, or with cynicism or pride? How can you cultivate a more humble, open posture in your doubts?
[See [01:06:25]]
5. The resurrection of Jesus is described as the foundation for our faith, even when we can’t see the outcome. How does remembering the resurrection help you trust God in times of uncertainty?
[See [01:13:43]]
6. The pastor encouraged the church to be a safe place for honest wrestling, not a place for trite answers or superficial faith. How can you help make our small group or church a safer place for people to share their doubts and questions?
[See [59:53]]
7. Think of a time when your own doubts or struggles later helped you minister to someone else. How might God use your current questions or pain to help others in the future?
[See [01:32:50]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray honestly, bringing any doubts or questions before God, and asking for deeper trust and encounter with Jesus—just as Thomas experienced.
Devotional
Day 1: Doubt as a Fertile Ground for Faith Growth
Doubt often emerges not from a lack of belief but from a deep desire to understand how faith aligns with real-life experiences. It signals a heart that cares profoundly about God’s nature and His promises, even when those promises seem distant or unfulfilled. Rather than fearing doubt, it can be embraced as the soil where a more mature and resilient faith takes root and flourishes. When you wrestle honestly with your questions, you are engaging in a vital spiritual process that can lead to greater trust and intimacy with God. [43:55]
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.”
— Proverbs 3:13-14 (ESV)
Reflection: What specific doubts or questions about God’s promises have been on your heart lately, and how might you invite God to use these doubts to deepen your trust in Him today?
Day 2: The Strength of Faith Found in Community
When doubts arise, the natural impulse may be to isolate yourself out of shame or fear of judgment. Yet, pressing into Christian community is essential during these seasons. Allowing others to pray for you, believe for you, and walk alongside you can be the very means God uses to steady your faith. Sometimes, you may need others to carry you until you can once again pray and believe for yourself. The church is called to be a safe place where vulnerability is welcomed and faith is nurtured through shared struggles. [54:28]
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.”
— Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)
Reflection: Who in your faith community can you reach out to this week to share your current struggles or doubts, and how can you invite them to support you in prayer and encouragement?
Day 3: Honesty Opens the Door to Divine Encounter
God honors raw honesty. Like Thomas, when you bring your full self—questions, pain, and all—into the light, you create space for Jesus to meet you personally. Doubt that remains unspoken can fester and lead to spiritual stagnation, but doubt that is expressed and wrestled with can become a doorway to transformation. Being transparent about your struggles invites God’s presence and allows His grace to work deeply within you, turning uncertainty into a profound encounter with Christ. [57:11]
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
Reflection: What doubts or fears have you been hesitant to share with God or others, and what would it look like to bring these honestly before Him and trusted believers today?
Day 4: Humble Doubt Versus Hard-Hearted Skepticism
Not all questioning is the same. Humble doubt seeks understanding and remains open to God’s revelation, while skepticism often stems from mistrust or pride. The prayer, “I believe; help my unbelief,” models a posture that invites God’s help and presence even when certainty is elusive. Recognizing the difference between these attitudes can help you approach your questions with humility and openness, allowing God to meet you where you are and lead you forward in faith. [01:06:25]
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
— Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Reflection: When you face doubts, how can you cultivate a humble heart that invites God’s help rather than hardening your heart against His work?
Day 5: The Resurrection as the Anchor in Uncertainty
Our confidence in God’s love, power, and faithfulness is anchored in the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Even when you cannot see or feel God at work, you can trust in what He has already accomplished. The journey through doubt, when rooted in this foundation, can lead to deeper worship, greater empathy, and a faith that ministers to others out of its own wounds. Your places of greatest questioning can become the very places from which God uses you to bring hope and healing to others. [01:13:43]
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV)
Reflection: How can the reality of Christ’s resurrection reshape your perspective on your current doubts and inspire you to minister to others through your own journey of faith?
Quotes
In Strong's Greek lexicon, doubt, which is the word distazo in Greek, it actually means to waver or to hesitate. So doubt is not a lack of faith. Doubt is actually a moment when we believe something about God, when we believe that it's true, but that belief seems to come in conflict with the reality of what we see around us in the world. It begins to come into tension with those things. [00:44:40] (25 seconds)
But I want us to see this, that true doubt is not opposite of faith. It's actually rooted in faith. And we believe, but we have some questions. We trust, but we need God to help us understand. [00:46:28] (22 seconds)
It's time to press in and to get around other believers and to let them struggle alongside of us and to encourage us and pray for us and point us to Jesus. I want you to hear that that Christian community, it's for the mountaintop experience of joy, but it's also for the valley of doubt. [00:52:34] (16 seconds)
See, with the sport of a Christian community, Hans was able to regain the steadiness of his faith that had been beaten by the waves of doubt. And sometimes we need other brothers to lift our arms. And sometimes we need other sisters to love us through our doubts. And sometimes we just need someone to walk with us. And just because you're doubting doesn't mean you have to run away. It actually means you need to press into the Christian community. Thomas did. I love this. Thomas came back to church even when he didn't believe. [00:54:39] (31 seconds)
Instead, Thomas made a commitment to be raw, to pour it out, to be brutal in his honesty and uncompromisingly candid. And I want you to notice, we're going to get to this in a minute, but when Thomas was honest, Jesus honored that. [00:56:52] (19 seconds)
See, the church has to be a place where we can wrestle our doubts to the ground, even if it takes years, even if it takes us a long time. If you read the Psalms, they're filled with doubters who bring their questions to God. It's all over the Psalms. Psalm 13, the psalmist says, where are you, God? Like, why aren't you here doing what I expect you to do? Psalm 35, how long, oh Lord, am I gonna be in this place? Psalm 22, why have you forsaken me, God? [01:00:09] (27 seconds)
And if you'll allow me, I'll teach you everything you need to know through my Holy Spirit. Or when your pastor or that Christian brother or that Christian sister broke your heart and they let you down and they did that awful thing to you, listen, I was there and it broke my heart too. But if you'll let me, I'll heal your wounds through my wounds. [01:03:18] (18 seconds)
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