Embracing Doubt: Trusting Jesus Through Our Scars
Summary
Today, we gathered to celebrate the faithfulness of God, the legacy of faithful servants, and the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus. We honored Steve and Gay Skinner for 35 years of steadfast ministry, recognizing how their consistency and humility have shaped our church family. Their example reminds us that excellence in service is not about self-promotion, but about pointing others to Jesus and loving people well. As we transition into a new season, we carry forward their legacy of worship, discipleship, and community.
Turning to the Scriptures, we explored the story of Thomas in John 20, a disciple often remembered for his doubts. The resurrection was not a pastel, comfortable event for those first followers—it was disorienting, even traumatic. Thomas’s skepticism was not a sign of weak faith, but an honest response to pain and loss. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his questions; instead, He met Thomas exactly where he was, inviting him to touch His scars and move from unbelief to belief. This encounter teaches us that doubt is not a dirty word. Our questions, our wounds, and our uncertainties are not barriers to Jesus—they are invitations for Him to draw near.
We reflected on how Jesus chose to keep His scars after the resurrection. He could have erased every mark of suffering, but He kept them as a testimony of victory and as a sign that He understands our pain. Our own scars—emotional, spiritual, or physical—are not hidden from Him. He invites us to bring our doubts and hurts to Him, to ask hard questions, and to trust that He is not threatened by our uncertainty. Like Thomas, we are called to move from skepticism to surrender, declaring, “My Lord and my God,” even when we don’t have all the answers.
Finally, we were reminded that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the willingness to bring our doubts to Jesus and trust Him with our lives. Whether you are wrestling with deep questions, facing personal pain, or simply longing for assurance, Jesus invites you to come close, to investigate, and to believe. There is a blessing for those who trust without seeing, and a promise of life in His name for all who surrender.
Key Takeaways
- Doubt is not a sign of spiritual failure, but an honest part of the journey of faith. Jesus welcomes our questions and meets us in our uncertainty, just as He did with Thomas. Our church should be a safe place for people to wrestle with their faith and bring their doubts into the light. [46:15]
- We must learn to “doubt our doubts.” Often, our skepticism is shaped by pain, disappointment, or even a desire to avoid the implications of faith. True spiritual growth comes when we examine not only the claims of faith, but also the assumptions behind our doubts, allowing God to speak into both. [53:09]
- Jesus keeps His scars as a sign of both victory and empathy. The resurrected Christ is not ashamed of His wounds; instead, He uses them to invite us into deeper trust. Our own scars are not disqualifications, but places where Jesus can meet us and show us that He understands our suffering. [01:03:00]
- Faith is not about having all the answers, but about surrendering to the One who does. Thomas’s journey from doubt to declaration—“My Lord and my God”—shows that faith is ultimately relational, rooted in an encounter with the living Christ. Even when we cannot see or touch, we are invited to trust and follow. [01:04:11]
- There is a unique blessing for those who believe without seeing. Jesus affirms that while Thomas believed because he saw, those who trust Him without physical proof are especially blessed. This encourages us to bring our doubts honestly, but also to step forward in faith, trusting that Jesus will reveal Himself in ways we need most. [01:06:02]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[41:25] - Honoring Steve and Gay Skinner’s Legacy
[43:10] - Prayer for Faithfulness and Blessing
[44:48] - The Tsunami Story: When Life Changes Suddenly
[46:15] - Wrestling with Doubt and Faith
[47:05] - Reading John 20: Thomas’s Encounter
[48:23] - Honest Questions and Personal Struggles
[49:58] - The Reality of Doubt: Thomas’s Story
[51:56] - The Resurrected Jesus: New Reality
[53:09] - Deconstructing Our Doubts
[54:31] - The Biases Behind Our Doubts
[56:40] - Jesus Invites Us to Investigate
[58:27] - Jesus Guides Us Through Our Doubts
[59:23] - Thomas’s Journey: From Faithful Follower to Doubter
[01:03:00] - The Meaning of Jesus’ Scars
[01:04:11] - Thomas’s Declaration and Legacy
[01:06:02] - Blessed Are Those Who Believe Without Seeing
[01:07:06] - Bringing Your Doubts to Jesus
[01:09:53] - Invitation to Trust Jesus
[01:20:53] - Celebrating Steve and Gay’s Ministry
[01:23:25] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Wrestling with Doubt and Faith
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### Bible Reading
John 20:24-29 (CSB)
24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though 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 look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
---
### Observation Questions
1. What specific proof did Thomas say he needed before he would believe that Jesus was alive? (John 20:25)
2. How did Jesus respond to Thomas’s doubts when He appeared to the disciples? (John 20:27)
3. What was Thomas’s reaction after Jesus invited him to touch His wounds? (John 20:28)
4. According to the sermon, what did Jesus do with His scars after the resurrection, and why is that significant? [[01:03:00]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Thomas was so honest about his doubts, and what does that tell us about the nature of faith? [[46:15]]
2. The sermon says that Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his questions but met him where he was. What does this reveal about how Jesus views our doubts and questions? [[56:40]]
3. The pastor mentioned that Jesus kept His scars as a sign of both victory and empathy. How might this change the way we view our own emotional or spiritual scars? [[01:03:00]]
4. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” What do you think this blessing means for us today? [[01:06:02]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “Doubt is not a dirty word.” Have you ever felt like you couldn’t talk about your doubts in church or with other Christians? What would it look like for our group to be a safe place for honest questions? [[46:15]]
2. The pastor encouraged us to “doubt our doubts.” Can you think of a time when your skepticism was shaped by pain or disappointment? How might examining the roots of your doubts help you move forward in faith? [[53:09]]
3. Jesus invited Thomas to touch His scars. Are there any “scars” in your life—emotional, spiritual, or physical—that you tend to hide? How might bringing those to Jesus change your relationship with Him? [[01:03:00]]
4. Thomas moved from skepticism to surrender, declaring, “My Lord and my God.” Is there an area of your life where you need to move from doubt to trust? What would surrender look like for you this week? [[01:04:11]]
5. The sermon reminded us that faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who does. What is one question or uncertainty you want to bring honestly to Jesus right now? [[01:07:06]]
6. Jesus said there is a special blessing for those who believe without seeing. How can you encourage someone in your life who is struggling to believe, even though they haven’t seen physical proof? [[01:06:02]]
7. We celebrated the legacy of faithful servants like Steve and Gay Skinner, who pointed others to Jesus through humble service. Who has been a “constant” in your faith journey, and how can you honor or thank them this week? [[41:25]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to spend a moment in silent prayer, bringing any doubts, questions, or scars to Jesus, and asking Him to meet them where they are—just as He did with Thomas.
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Doubt as a Step Toward Faith
Doubt is often misunderstood as a failure in faith, but it is actually a natural and honest part of the spiritual journey. Just as Thomas wrestled with uncertainty after Jesus’ resurrection, believers today are invited to bring their questions and struggles into the light rather than hiding them. Faith communities should be safe spaces where doubts are welcomed and explored, not condemned. When Jesus met Thomas, He did not rebuke his skepticism but lovingly invited him to engage with the reality of the resurrection firsthand. This encounter shows that Jesus meets us in our uncertainty and uses our questions as a bridge to deeper trust. [46:15]
Jesus’ openness to doubt encourages believers to be honest about their spiritual struggles. Instead of feeling shame or fear about questioning, you can bring your honest doubts to God, knowing He understands and desires to meet you there. This process can lead to a more resilient and authentic faith, one that is not built on blind acceptance but on a relationship that embraces both questions and trust.
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. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, 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 specific doubts or questions about your faith have you been hesitant to share with others or with God? How might you begin to bring those doubts into the light this week, trusting that Jesus welcomes them?
Day 2: Questioning the Roots of Our Skepticism
Often, the doubts we carry are shaped not only by intellectual questions but also by emotional pain, past disappointments, or fears about what faith might require of us. Learning to “doubt our doubts” means examining the underlying assumptions and biases that fuel our skepticism. This deeper reflection allows God to speak not only into the claims of faith but also into the fears and wounds that may be distorting our perspective. True spiritual growth happens when we honestly confront both our doubts and the reasons behind them, opening space for healing and transformation. [53:09]
This process invites you to pause and ask: Are my doubts purely intellectual, or are they also protective walls built from past hurts or avoidance? By bringing these layers before God, you allow Him to gently dismantle barriers and reveal a fuller picture of His love and truth. This kind of introspection can lead to a faith that is not only informed but also deeply rooted in personal experience and healing.
Psalm 77:7-12 (ESV)
Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion? Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Reflection: Identify one doubt you have that may be influenced by past pain or fear. What steps can you take this week to honestly examine the source of that doubt and invite God to speak into it?
Day 3: Jesus’ Scars as a Testament of Victory and Compassion
After His resurrection, Jesus chose to keep His scars—visible marks of suffering that testify both to His victory over death and His deep empathy for human pain. These scars are not signs of weakness or shame but powerful symbols that He fully understands the wounds we carry. Our own emotional, spiritual, or physical scars are not disqualifications from God’s love; rather, they are places where Jesus meets us with compassion and invites us into deeper trust. Recognizing this truth can transform how we view our brokenness and suffering, seeing them as entry points for grace rather than reasons for shame. [01:03:00]
This perspective encourages you to bring your hurts and scars before Jesus without fear. He is not distant or detached from your pain but intimately acquainted with it. His scars remind us that victory and suffering coexist in the Christian life, and that healing often comes through the presence of One who has endured much yet remains victorious.
Isaiah 53:3-5 (ESV)
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Reflection: What scars—emotional, spiritual, or physical—do you find difficult to bring before God? How can you practice trusting Jesus with those scars this week, knowing He understands and uses them for your healing?
Day 4: Faith as Relational Surrender, Not Intellectual Certainty
Faith is not about having all the answers or eliminating every doubt; it is about surrendering to the One who holds all truth. Thomas’s journey from skepticism to the declaration “My Lord and my God” illustrates that faith is ultimately relational, rooted in an encounter with the living Christ. Even when we cannot see or touch Jesus physically, we are invited to trust Him and follow. This kind of faith requires humility and openness, a willingness to step forward despite uncertainty and to build a relationship that grows through trust rather than proof. [01:04:11]
This understanding challenges you to consider where you might be holding back from full surrender because of unanswered questions. Faith invites you to move beyond intellectual barriers and enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, trusting that He is present and active even when clarity is elusive. This relational surrender is the foundation for a vibrant and enduring spiritual life.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection: In what area of your life are you resisting surrender because you want more answers or certainty? What would it look like to take one step toward trusting Jesus relationally today, even amid uncertainty?
Day 5: The Blessing of Believing Without Physical Proof
Jesus affirms a special blessing for those who believe without seeing Him physically. While Thomas’s faith was strengthened by seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds, those who trust in Jesus without such tangible proof are uniquely blessed. This encourages believers to bring their doubts honestly but also to step forward in faith, trusting that Jesus will reveal Himself in the ways they need most. This promise invites you to embrace faith as a journey of trust, where God’s presence and assurance unfold over time, often beyond what can be seen or measured. [01:06:02]
This blessing challenges you to consider how you might grow in trusting Jesus even when evidence feels absent or unclear. It is an invitation to live in the tension of not seeing yet believing, knowing that such faith is honored and rewarded by God. Embracing this blessing can deepen your spiritual resilience and open your heart to new experiences of God’s grace.
Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Reflection: What is one area where you are being called to believe without seeing? How can you practice stepping forward in faith today, trusting that Jesus will reveal Himself in the ways you need?
Quotes
The scars are not moments of defeat or brokenness for Jesus. They are marks of victory that he has overcome death and the grave and they show how much he loves his people. [01:03:11] (15 seconds)
But secondly, I think Jesus keeps the scars to show us that he understands what it feels like to be broken and to struggle and to feel pain. [01:03:25] (15 seconds)
But Jesus does not run from Thomas. He invites Thomas in. And he takes Thomas to the place where Thomas needed to go. Which is the one proof that Thomas asked for. [00:57:14] (18 seconds)
Don't be faithless, but believe. You know, Jesus will invite you to ask him hard questions and he's not afraid of your doubts. In fact, many times the one thing that we ask for, he will show us. [00:57:48] (16 seconds)
And he's guiding his hand, Thomas, to actually place his finger in his side. It captures what Jesus is all about. He invites you to investigate who he is. And he's not afraid of your questions or your doubt. Because we all have doubt. [00:58:34] (21 seconds)
But Jesus invites us to move from unbelief to believe. That's what he says to Thomas. He says, don't be unbelieving, but believe. That invitation's out there for you today to begin to believe that Jesus is actually for you. [00:59:23] (19 seconds)
Sometimes doubt is in place simply because we want to be right or we don't like the implications of what it means for Jesus to be real. Sometimes we're mad at God or we don't believe in God simply because we don't want to believe in God. That's an uncomfortable truth. [00:55:33] (23 seconds)
And for many of us, when we think about the resurrection, a lot of us think about Easter. We think about flowers and pastels and seersucker suits and babies and the joy of Easter. But those who experienced Easter the very first Easter morning did not know what hit them. It was a life -changing event, and their lives were forever different. [00:45:09] (22 seconds)
And for you today, if you're dealing with faith issues because of pain, maybe you have some wounds that you've never addressed. Or maybe there's something that's deeply hurting within you that somebody did to you. Or you've gone through a season of deep doubt and uncertainty and you've been turned aside. I want you to look at the way that Jesus interacts with people who doubt, specifically with this story. [00:56:10] (30 seconds)
Now he doesn't have all the answers. He doesn't know how Jesus has been raised from the dead, but he knows who Jesus is. And he declares Jesus Lord and God. Now for a first century Jew, this is a radical claim. They didn't go around saying this very often, in fact ever. This is a capital offense. If you said somebody was God, they would stone you. Thomas claims that Jesus is Lord and God. [01:04:25] (31 seconds)
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