Have you ever had a moment when your faith collided with questions? When you wanted to believe, but your doubts were louder than your trust? A man in the Bible named Thomas had walked with Jesus for years and seen miracles with his own eyes, yet when the disciples announced that Jesus had risen, Thomas couldn’t bring himself to believe without proof. We often call him “Doubting Thomas,” but maybe he looks more like us than we’d like to admit. 

Thomas wasn’t a background character, but he was a bold and outspoken disciple. In John 11:16, when Jesus decides to return to Judea, Thomas doesn’t shrink back. He declares, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (NIV). That’s not the statement of a coward. That’s the voice of a fiercely loyal man, willing to risk everything for Jesus. This offers a different perspective: Thomas wasn’t naturally a skeptic. He was deeply committed, but when life didn’t unfold the way he expected, his faith struggled.

By the time the other disciples told him they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas’s heart had already been crushed once. In John 20:25 (NIV), he responds, “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.” That’s not just stubborn doubt, that’s a wounded heart crying, “I can’t go through the pain of hoping again unless I know it’s real.”

Can you relate? Maybe you trusted someone, and they let you down. Maybe you thought following Jesus meant life would be easier, but instead you’re carrying heavy burdens. Like Thomas, it’s not that you don’t want to believe, it’s that you’re afraid to get your hopes crushed again. The beauty of Thomas’s story is that Jesus doesn’t shame him. A week later, Jesus appears to Thomas and invites him to touch His wounds. He doesn’t lecture Thomas about being weak but meets him exactly where he is, and in response, Thomas declares in John 20:28 (NIV), “My Lord and my God!” Doubt didn’t disqualify Thomas; it became the doorway to a stronger declaration of faith. 

What are the doubts or disappointments you’re carrying right now? Be honest with God about them and invite Him to meet you in your questions. Faith isn’t about never struggling with doubt. It’s about trusting Jesus through the doubt and discovering that He is faithful.

Dig Deeper

God isn’t intimidated by your questions. Be encouraged that, doubt can actually push you to seek Jesus more deeply, and in the process, your faith grows stronger. Be honest about your questions and pay attention. Where might God be showing up in your life right now, even in small ways?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for meeting us in our doubts, just as You met Thomas. When disappointment clouds our hearts and questions feel heavy, remind us that You are near and faithful. Strengthen our trust in You, even when we can’t see the full picture. Help us declare with confidence, “My Lord and my God.” Amen.

Daily Readings

Flower Illustration by Lan Truong | Scripture Illustration by Frieda Ruh | This article was originally tiled “When The Questions Come” in the November 2025 issue of Peer Magazine.