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DOUBT • Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt – 4/5/26

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior! Because of His death and resurrection, we are forgiven, sin has lost its power, and we are invited into a relationship with God. We have the promise of heaven and a living hope grounded in His presence. God is with us, guiding and strengthening us, and nothing can separate us from His love in Christ. Yet even with these truths, many still wrestle with doubt—and that is not uncommon.

Doubt often surfaces in honest questions about faith, suffering, and personal disappointment. Some struggle to reconcile a good God with pain in the world, while others carry wounds from unanswered prayers or negative experiences with the church or Christians. Doubt can feel isolating, especially when others assume it means a lack of faith. But acknowledging doubt is essential; it opens the door to deeper understanding. When we bring our questions to God and seek sincerely, He meets us where we are and begins to transform our perspective.

Even those closest to Jesus experienced doubt. After the resurrection, some who saw Him worshiped, while others had doubts. This reality is strangely encouraging—it reminds us that doubt and faith can coexist. Ideally, we desire a confident, unwavering faith, yet that’s easier said than done. True faith is not the absence of doubt, but something that grows stronger as doubt is worked through openly and honestly.

Thomas, often labeled “Doubting Thomas,” has long been a prime example. He missed the disciples’ first encounter with the risen Jesus and struggled to believe that Jesus was alive. His absence from the faith community deepened his doubt, yet when his friends encouraged him, he was welcomed and included. The disciples continued to share truth with patience and grace, creating space for him to wrestle with his doubt. The next time Jesus appeared, Thomas was present, and Jesus spoke directly to Thomas, offering exactly what he needed to believe—without rejection or condemnation.

Thomas’ encounter transformed him, moving him from doubt to a bold, life-changing faith. His story reminds us that faith must be firsthand, not inherited or assumed. Jesus invites all who doubt to seek, ask, and remain open. God is faithful to reveal Himself, providing what we need to believe. Doubt is not the end of faith; it can be the beginning of a deeper, stronger, and more enduring trust in God through Christ.

Scriptures— Matthew 28:16-17 (NIV); Luke 24:36-38 (NIV), Luke 24:39 (CEB); Hebrews 10:25 (NLT); John 20:25-28 (NIV); Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Verses— The other disciples kept on telling 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.” (Jn 20:25) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks received, and those who seek find, and to everyone who knocks it will be opened.” (Mt 7:7-8)

Questions— Where do you currently find yourself—confident in faith, wrestling with doubt, or somewhere in between? Explain. What are some common reasons people struggle with doubt? Which is most common to your own experience? What stands out to you about how Jesus responded to Thomas? Why is it important to stay connected to a faith community when you’re struggling? How can we create a safe space for others to bring their doubts?

Prayer— Lord, in moments of doubt, draw me closer to You; remind me of your faithfulness. Give me courage to ask, seek, and remain open to Your truth. Meet me where I am and strengthen my faith through Your presence. Help me move from uncertainty to a deeper, personal trust in You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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