From Doubt to Faith: Embracing Honest Questions

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Meets Us in Our Honest Questions

Jesus meets us exactly where we are, even in our disbelief, offering gentle invitation rather than rebuke. When Thomas voiced his absolute disbelief, Jesus did not shame or scold him. Instead, He appeared to Thomas, knowing his heart and his words, and offered him the very proof he needed. Jesus’ response was not one of frustration but of compassion, meeting Thomas in his need and inviting him to move forward in faith. In the same way, God sees our questions, our pain, and our doubts, and He is not surprised or annoyed by them. He meets us in our honest searching, offering Himself as the answer and inviting us to trust Him more deeply. [20:57]

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 honest question or doubt you have been carrying—can you bring it to Jesus today, trusting that He will meet you with compassion rather than condemnation?

Day 2: Faith Is Anchored, Not Blind

Christian faith is not about leaving our brains at the door or giving glib assent to things we do not understand; it is about anchoring ourselves to the unshakable truths of God’s goodness and love, even when we have questions. Thomas’ refusal to believe without evidence shows that faith is not opposed to honest inquiry. The early disciples did not believe in the resurrection because they were gullible, but because they saw the risen Jesus. In our own journey, we are invited to anchor ourselves in what we know of God’s character—His goodness, His faithfulness, His unchanging love—so that when doubts or hard questions arise, we have something solid to hold onto. [12:59]

Hebrews 6:19 (ESV)
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.

Reflection: What is one “anchor” truth about God that you can return to when you face doubts or difficult questions?

Day 3: God Honors Honest Doubt Over Empty Words

God desires honesty from us, not empty words or rote prayers that do not reflect our true hearts. It is better to be silent before God than to say things we do not mean, and He honors those who bring their real questions and struggles to Him. Like Thomas, who refused to pretend belief he did not have, we are invited to bring our authentic selves before God. Honest doubt, when brought to God, can be a step toward deeper faith, because it opens the door for God to meet us and transform us. [12:59]

Psalm 51:6 (ESV)
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Reflection: Is there a prayer or belief you have been reciting without truly meaning it—how might you bring your honest heart to God instead today?

Day 4: Move Forward—Don’t Stay Stuck in Disbelief

Jesus calls us not to remain in our disbelief or pain, but to move forward with Him, staking our future on His resurrection and goodness. When Jesus met Thomas, He did not just answer his questions—He invited him to move from disbelief to belief, to commit wholeheartedly to a life lived for Him. God meets us in our questions, but He also calls us to take steps of faith, to trust Him with our future, and to let go of the need for every answer before we follow. [25:29]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one area where you sense God inviting you to move forward in faith, even if you don’t have all the answers?

Day 5: Let God Be God in Your Pain and Questions

Letting God be God means surrendering our need for answers and control, especially in seasons of pain, loss, or uncertainty. Even when prayers seem unanswered and circumstances are hard, God invites us to stop fighting Him and to rest in His love and presence. As we let go and allow Him to hold us, we may not receive the explanations we want, but we will find the sustaining grace and hope that only He can give. [31:17]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to stop fighting for control and let God be God—what would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Sermon Summary

We all have moments in our lives that seem to define us—sometimes for the better, but often for the worse. Many of us carry stories or labels from our past, things that follow us around and shape how we see ourselves. In the story of Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, we see a man who has been forever remembered for a single moment: his refusal to believe in the resurrection until he saw Jesus for himself. Yet, when we look closely, we see that Thomas was not simply a doubter—he was honest, courageous, and deeply committed to seeking the truth.

Thomas’ story reminds us that disbelief is not the same as doubt. Doubt is a natural part of faith, a companion on the journey, but disbelief is a refusal to accept what we cannot see or understand. Thomas was not gullible; he knew, as well as we do, that dead people stay dead. His demand for evidence was not a sign of weak faith, but of honest questioning. Christianity does not ask us to leave our minds at the door or to accept things blindly. The resurrection was not proclaimed because the disciples were deluded, but because they saw the risen Jesus with their own eyes.

Honest questions honor God more than glib assent. It is easy to recite prayers or affirm beliefs without truly wrestling with their meaning. God desires truth from us, even if that truth is wrapped in confusion, pain, or longing. When we bring our real questions—about suffering, about God’s goodness, about our own worth—God meets us where we are. Jesus’ response to Thomas was not rebuke, but invitation. He offered Thomas exactly what he needed, meeting him in his disbelief and gently calling him forward into faith.

We all have anchors—truths about God’s character and love—that hold us steady when doubt and suffering come. Sometimes, God does not give us the answers we want, but he always gives us himself. In the hardest moments, when prayers seem unanswered and pain is overwhelming, God invites us to let him be God, to rest in his love, and to move forward with him. The journey from disbelief to faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who holds us, even in our questions.

Key Takeaways

1. Disbelief and doubt are not the same. Thomas’ insistence on seeing Jesus’ wounds was not mere doubt, but a strong disbelief rooted in reality—he knew dead people do not rise. Yet, his honesty in expressing this disbelief is a model for us: God can handle our deepest questions and our need for real evidence. Faith is not the absence of questions, but the willingness to bring them honestly before God. [12:59]
2. Honest questioning is a form of faith. There is more faith in honest doubt than in empty praise. God does not want us to give glib assent to truths we do not understand or believe. Instead, he honors those who come to him with real, heartfelt questions, even if those questions are hard or painful. [12:59]
3. God meets us where we are, not where we pretend to be. Jesus’ response to Thomas was gentle and personal—he knew exactly what Thomas needed and offered it without rebuke or shame. God sees our hearts, hears our questions, and meets us in our pain, inviting us to move forward with him rather than stay stuck in disbelief. [20:57]
4. Anchors of faith sustain us through doubt and suffering. When we cannot understand God’s ways or see his purposes, we need unshakable truths to hold onto—God is good, his love is unchanging, and he can be trusted. These anchors do not remove our questions, but they keep us steady as we wrestle with them. [25:29]
5. Letting God be God brings peace, even without answers. In the midst of suffering and unanswered prayers, the invitation is to stop fighting, to let God hold us, and to trust his goodness. The journey is not about getting all the answers, but about surrendering to God’s love and finding rest in his presence, even when life is hard. [31:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Family Stories and Defining Moments
[03:10] - Introducing Thomas: More Than a Doubter
[05:20] - Thomas’ Courage and Honesty
[07:30] - The Event: Thomas’ Disbelief
[10:15] - Doubt vs. Disbelief Explained
[12:59] - Honest Questions and Glib Assent
[15:40] - Anchors in the Midst of Doubt
[18:20] - Wrestling with Big Questions
[20:57] - Jesus’ Response to Thomas
[23:30] - Moving from Disbelief to Faith
[25:29] - The Legacy of Thomas
[28:13] - Personal Story: Wrestling with God in Suffering
[31:17] - Letting God Be God in Hard Times
[33:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

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? What specific evidence did he say he needed before he would believe? (John 20:25)
How did Jesus respond to Thomas when he appeared to the disciples again? What did Jesus offer Thomas? (John 20:27)
What was Thomas’s response after Jesus invited him to see and touch his wounds? (John 20:28)
According to the sermon, what is the difference between doubt and disbelief, and which one did Thomas show? [12:59]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Thomas insisted on seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds before he would believe? What does this tell us about his character and his understanding of reality? [12:59]
The sermon says that honest questions honor God more than just saying the right words. Why might God value honest questioning over “glib assent”? [12:59]
Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his disbelief but instead invited him to see and touch. What does this reveal about how God responds to our questions and struggles? [20:57]
The sermon talks about “anchors” of faith—truths about God’s character that hold us steady. Why are these anchors important when we face doubt or suffering? [25:29]

Application Questions

Can you think of a moment in your life where you felt defined by a mistake or a label from your past, like Thomas was called “Doubting Thomas”? How has that shaped how you see yourself or your faith? [00:45]
When you have questions or doubts about God, do you tend to hide them, ignore them, or bring them honestly to God? What would it look like for you to be more honest with God about your questions? [12:59]
The sermon says that God meets us where we are, not where we pretend to be. Is there an area in your life right now where you are pretending or holding back from God? What would it take to let God meet you there? [20:57]
Think about a time when you faced suffering or unanswered prayers. Did you find it hard to let God “be God” in that situation? What helped you, or what could help you, to trust God even without answers? [31:17]
The speaker shared about having “anchors” of faith—simple truths like “God is good” or “God’s love is unchanging.” What are some anchors you hold onto when you face doubt or pain? If you don’t have any, what could be a starting point for you? [25:29]
Jesus told Thomas, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Is there a step of faith—big or small—that you sense God is inviting you to take right now, even if you still have questions? What might it look like to move forward with God in that area? [20:57]
The sermon mentioned that sometimes, instead of giving us answers, God gives us himself. How have you experienced God’s presence in hard times, even when you didn’t get the answers you wanted? [31:17]

Sermon Clips

As Thomas stands face to face with his fellow disciples, he displays utter honesty. He refuses to give glib assent to something that he is not sure about, that he is not sure is true. [00:11:09] (15 seconds) #HonestFaithMatters

As we come face to face with him with our questions, he meets us where we're at, he gently invites us to let him be God, and he may not give you the answer that you're looking for, but I promise you, you will find an answer in him that will sustain you. [00:33:13] (26 seconds) #SustainedByFaith

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What distinguishes disbelief from doubt in faith?

How does Jesus respond to honest questions about belief?

Why are anchors important during times of spiritual uncertainty?