Could it be that faith is not actually a fully convinced, blindly confident mindset? What if faith isn’t walking around 100% sure all the time? Could it be that real faith actually needs a little doubt in the mix, like “maybe not” sitting right next to the “maybe so”? What if faith and doubt aren’t enemies but two sides of the same coin?

Locked Minds, Locked Souls

Picture this: The Twelve are hiding out, door locked tight. The women had told them they’d been to the tomb, but Jesus’ body was gone. Instead, Mary Magdalene ran and came running in with, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

But let’s be real, the guys weren’t buying it. Mary had a past, had once been possessed by demons, so the story goes. Doubt made sense. After the trauma of three days ago, it’d be easy to think she had relapsed into her old sickness, seeing what was not really there. Yeah, doubt was rational.

Made sense… until it didn’t. Rational except when the door of it was blown off. Because that locked door? Didn’t mean a thing. Jesus in the flesh was among them like locks are optional. “Peace be with you,” he said, showing them the scars, healed, but still real. (John 20:19-21)  

Something nobody had ever seen before. Something no logic or rational proof could explain. Death tried it, but life hit back harder. His demise by brutal execution was now secondary to this new life that reversed death and its finality.

Doubt and Faith Collide

“Joy” doesn’t even cover what they felt. They were hunkered down, scared for their lives, and suddenly Jesus is standing there. Certainly, they were thrilled to see Jesus alive again. But if they had actually believed he’d rise like he said, die and return alive by the third day, they wouldn’t have been shocked out of their minds. Instead, their doubt had slammed head-on into their faith.

They weren’t alone. Thomas, one of the original twelve, wasn’t even there that night. When told Jesus was alive, he wouldn’t buy it. Furthermore, he wouldn’t accept just an appearance but declared he had to actually touch Jesus’ wounded hands and sword-pierced side to believe it had happened. No ghost was going to change his mind.

Jesus delivered eight days later. Appearing to the disciples, this time including Thomas. Jesus greeted them like before, “Peace be with you.”

Peace: don’t be afraid or freak out.

Peace: this is bigger than anything you or the world has ever known.

Peace: prepare to have all your assumptions, expectations, your whole worldview flip. Peace: lean in, accept what I have done.

“Peace be with you.”

Concede to Both

He invited Thomas to touch him literally in his points of pain. Jesus knew that’s where Thomas’ doubt lived, in the pain, in the questions, in the part of him that needed something real to hold onto. It’s where so many others’ questions have had to pause, sort out in mind and soul if this could be. You can’t accept resurrection without accepting death first. One won’t have significance without the other. They’re linked. Faith without doubt is just pretending. Faith linked with doubt becomes belief. Own them both.

Thomas finally gets it and blurts out, “My Lord and my God!” He’s the first one to say out loud who Jesus really is, not just a Savior with a ticket to heaven, but the One who rules over everything life throws at us, even when we’re wrestling with our own uncertainty, our doubt.

The Better Blessing

Jesus tells Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me.” But then he drops the real gem:

“Blessed are the ones who believe without seeing.”

Blessed are the ones who don’t get miracles on demand.

Blessed are the ones who don’t get visions or voices or proof.

Blessed are the ones who build faith while holding doubt in the other hand.

That kind of belief? That’s a miracle all by itself.

Jesus blesses everyone, from Thomas all the way to now, who manages to believe without firsthand experience. People who don’t treat doubt as the enemy but as part of the journey, who live with doubt and still find a way to believe. But there are those who perhaps have even more of a blessing than a physical revelation.

To those who did not know him then and even more so to all the world that will come later, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Blessed are those who have not had the benefit of miracles and heavenly revelation. Miracles help some, but those who “come to believe” without them very likely have the greatest miracle of all, the miracle of a faith that has acknowledged doubt.

Where Faith Really Lives

Faith grows in the space where we don’t know how God does what God does. It stretches us, fill us, changes us.

But it usually starts with honest doubt because honest doubt is what leads to honest belief. Faith isn’t a switch you flip; it’s a journey you walk, step by step, a journey where we come to believe, learn how to believe, as we go.           

John 20:19-29

Named 2024 Notable Book Award by Southern Christian Writers Conference!

The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings

Ask for it wherever you buy your books, or just Click Here.

For those who have read The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away, please leave a review and help spread some "Jesus Trouble!" Click Here.

Subscribe to The Trouble with Jesus Blog Here.

Buy Me a Coffee