Doubt, Thomas, and the Journey of Faith (John 20:24–31)
Doubt, Thomas, and the Journey of Faith
John 20:24–31
Many of us grew up hearing that doubt was dangerous and that questioning too much, asking hard questions, or struggling with belief was crossing a line. In some faith environments, doubt was treated almost like a threat. Questioning the narrative was portrayed as putting the community in danger, and sometimes people were taught that certainty was faith and to ask questions was viewed as a failure.
That kind of fear shows up in all sorts of places. In high-control systems, questioning becomes dangerous because questions threaten structures of power. If people begin asking whether the stories they inherited are true, the entire system starts to feel unstable. Fear becomes a tool to preserve control. Boundaries get enforced. Outsiders become threats. And for all of these reasons, doubt becomes something to suppress rather than something to explore.
But throughout the Gospels, Jesus seems remarkably unafraid of questions.
Thomas has often become the cautionary example. We even gave him a nickname: “Doubting Thomas,” and Thomas becomes the example of what not to be. But if we slow down, the story becomes harder to read that way because Thomas’ response is not actually very different from everyone else’s. Mary sees the empty tomb and immediately assumes Jesus’ body has been taken. Peter runs to investigate and still doesn’t understand. The disciples lock themselves in a room because they are terrified. Nearly everyone in John 19–20 struggles to believe what has happened.
Each person has a different journey toward faith; Mary needs Jesus to call her by name. Peter needs to see for himself. The others need Jesus to stand among them and bring peace into their fear. Thomas needs something too, and rather than shaming him, Jesus meets him where he’s at. He doesn’t scold Thomas. He doesn’t humiliate him in front of the others or make him feel inadequate. He simply offers him what he needs. “Put your finger here. See my hands.” This is how Jesus honors Thomas’ struggle.
Positive Doubt
The Gospel seems far more positive about doubt than many of us were taught. Doubt is not the enemy of faith, it is actually doubt that keeps the journey moving. Doubt often begins when old answers stop working, and it emerges when experience collides with certainty. It appears when people see leaders acting unlike Jesus or when suffering refuses to fit inside simple explanations.
The goal of John’s Gospel is not blind certainty. Near the end of the book John tells us why these stories were written: “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Life in his name is the goal. There is no mention of control or certainty or even rescue from pain in the afterlife. It is life in his name, which is very different from life in the name of Rome —or America. Every culture tells stories that shape people—stories about success, power, belonging, fear, and value. The Gospel offers a different story about what it means to be human. The story of Jesus becomes an alternate story. It teaches us how to think about power, enemies, money, community, suffering, and love.
And the Spirit seems to work through that story, slowly shaping us over time.
So if you find yourself asking hard questions, wrestling with uncertainty, or feeling stuck somewhere between belief and doubt, perhaps you are not failing. Perhaps you are simply still on the journey.
House Church Discussion Questions
Growing up, what messages did you receive about doubt or asking hard questions? Did doubt feel welcomed, ignored, or feared?
Thomas gets remembered as “Doubting Thomas,” but everyone in the resurrection stories struggles in different ways. Which person in the story do you relate to most right now?
Jesus seems to meet each person differently. Where have you experienced God meeting you in a way that felt personal or specific to you?
Have you ever had a season where old answers stopped working or your faith felt more complicated? What helped you keep moving forward?
The Gospel says these stories were written “that you may have life.” When you think about your own faith journey, what kinds of things bring life, peace, and hope to you?