Moments of Doubt

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

John 20:24-25 (NIV)

Jesus met Thomas at his point of need. He showed Thomas the evidence Thomas needed to remove all doubt. Kneeling down and filled with wonder at the Lord’s proof, Thomas said, “My Lord, my God!” Thomas received the evidence he needed and he responded with worship and belief.

Why must doubt be considered such a bad thing? Seeking what we do not know can help us journey forward. After all, it’s how we grow. Faith is found in doubtful moments, in times when we cannot believe.

You’re not less of a Christian because you’re nursing doubts. It’s a barometer, a prognosis about where you are in your faith right now. Jesus is essentially saying to Thomas, “Thomas, I don’t want you walking around disbelieving the resurrection, because without the belief of the resurrection, there could be no salvation. So I need you to believe that I am in fact resurrected. Therefore come here, touch Me, and see if I’m real.” And when he does, Thomas’s doubts have to step back, and Thomas says, “Oh my God and my Master.”

And that’s where many of us are today. We’re upset with ourselves because we’re thinking, “How can I sit here wondering if God can make a way when, for so long, He’s proven Himself faithful? But these doubts, they just keep confusing and clouding my spiritual conversation.”

Concerning those thoughts, Jesus says, “It’s all right. I know you have them. You’re human. And I know you have doubts. That’s okay. That’s why I’m going to stand here with My wounds and let you touch Me—because I need you to know that I am real.”

Your doubts are not always the absence of faith. Sometimes they’re just an indication that faith needs to be pushed to the next level.