From Doubt to Devotion

Have you ever had a moment when you just couldn’t believe something unless you saw it with your own eyes? Maybe someone told you an unbelievable story, and your first response was, “No way. Prove it.”

We live in a world that values proof—seeing is believing. And honestly, when it comes to matters of faith, many of us have been there, too. We’ve wrestled with doubt. We’ve had questions. We’ve longed for certainty. And if that’s you, you’re not alone. One of Jesus’ own disciples—one who walked with Him, saw His miracles, and heard His teachings—felt the exact same way. His name was Thomas, and history has labeled him Doubting Thomas. But what if doubt wasn’t the end of his story? What if doubt was actually the pathway to something deeper?

Today, we’re stepping into Thomas’ journey, found in John 20:24-29. It’s a story of skepticism, an unexpected encounter, and a declaration that changed everything. Because the truth is, Easter isn’t just about Jesus rising from the dead—it’s about what that resurrection means for us.
What do we do with our doubts? How does Jesus respond when we struggle to believe? And most importantly, how does the risen Christ transform us from doubters to devoted disciples?

We don’t know exactly why Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them. Maybe he was grieving alone, struggling to make sense of everything that had happened. Maybe he couldn’t bear to be around the others in their hope, when all he felt was despair. But when they told him the news—“We have seen the Lord!”—Thomas refused to accept it. “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 20:25) It’s a bold statement. Some might call it stubborn, but really, it’s honesty.

Thomas had seen Jesus crucified. He had witnessed the horror of the cross. And now, he’s being asked to believe that Jesus is alive? That kind of belief doesn’t come easy. And if we’re honest, we can relate. How many times have we struggled to believe in God’s goodness when life has felt anything but good? How often have we wrestled with doubt when prayers go unanswered, when pain lingers, when hope feels distant?

But Thomas isn’t alone in his doubt.

Throughout Scripture, even the greatest heroes of faith had moments of uncertainty. Abraham questioned how God would make him a father of nations (Genesis 17:17). Moses doubted his ability to lead (Exodus 4:10-13). The psalmist cried out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1) And even John the Baptist—who baptized Jesus, who saw the Spirit descend—later sent word from prison, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3)

 Doubt isn’t a sign of failure; it’s part of the journey. It’s what happens when human hearts try to grasp divine reality. And the incredible truth is that God doesn’t push away those who doubt—He invites them closer.

Maybe today, you find yourself in Thomas’ shoes. Maybe you’ve been told about Jesus, but you’re waiting for your own proof. Maybe faith feels just out of reach. If that’s you, hear this: God isn’t afraid of your doubts. He meets you in them. He met Abraham with a promise. He met Moses with reassurance. He met John the Baptist with confirmation. And He was about to meet Thomas—not with condemnation, not with shame—but with an invitation to see for himself.

This moment reminds us that faith isn’t just about what we see; it’s about who we trust.

 Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This is the kind of faith that moves mountains, that sustains us through trials, that gives us hope when life feels uncertain. Peter, who had his own moments of doubt, later wrote, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” (1 Peter 1:8) Thomas had the proof he needed, but Jesus invites all of us into a faith that is not based on sight, but on trust in His Word, His Spirit, and His ongoing work in the world.

So here’s the challenge: Will we trust Him? Will we believe in the risen Christ even when we can’t see Him with our physical eyes? The truth is, we do see Him—not in the same way Thomas did, but in the testimony of Scripture, in the movement of the Holy Spirit, and in the countless lives transformed by His grace. We see Him when forgiveness triumphs over bitterness, when love casts out fear, when hope rises in the darkest moments. Jesus is still meeting people where they are. The question is—will we choose to believe?

Thomas’ journey from doubt to devotion is one that speaks to all of us. We’ve all had moments where we wrestle with questions, where we long for certainty, where faith feels just out of reach. But the good news of Easter is that Jesus meets us in those moments. He met Thomas in his doubt, offering proof, but He also extends a blessing to those who will believe without seeing. Faith is not about having all the answers—it’s about trusting in the One who does. Jesus is alive, and His resurrection is just as life-changing today as it was for Thomas.

So where do you find yourself in this story?

Are you standing in doubt, waiting for proof? Are you hesitating to trust Jesus fully? Or are you ready to step forward in faith, declaring with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”?

The invitation is before you. Jesus is not far off—He is here, reaching out, calling you to believe. Will you take that step? Will you trust in the power of the risen Christ? Because blessed are those who believe—who choose faith over fear, trust over doubt, and devotion over hesitation. Jesus is alive. The question is—what will you do with that truth?

Scripture: John 20:24-29, Hebrews 11:1, 1 Peter 1:8