Walking by Faith: Thomas – From Doubt to Deep Belief

He missed the moment everyone else experienced. 

The risen Jesus had appeared to the disciples, stood among them, and spoken peace. But Thomas wasn’t there. When the others told him what had happened, he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. 

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails… I will never believe” (John 20:25). 

That single sentence shaped his reputation for centuries. “Doubting Thomas,” we call him. But there’s more to Thomas than one moment of hesitation. His story is for every person who has struggled to believe, longed for proof, or wondered if faith is really possible. 

Walking by faith doesn’t mean never doubting. It means bringing our doubts to Jesus—and letting Him turn them into trust. 

A Bold Follower 

Thomas wasn’t a skeptic by nature. In fact, earlier in the Gospel of John, he showed courage when others hesitated. 

When Jesus announced He would return to Judea—where danger awaited—Thomas said to the others, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). 

That wasn’t sarcasm. It was loyalty. Thomas loved Jesus deeply. He wanted to understand Him. But like many of the disciples, he struggled to grasp what Jesus meant when He spoke of dying and rising again. 

So when the resurrection actually happened, Thomas needed more than secondhand testimony. He needed a personal encounter. 

Honest Doubt 

“Unless I see… I will never believe” (John 20:25). 

Thomas wasn’t trying to undermine the faith of others. He was voicing what many of us feel but are afraid to say: “I want to believe, but I need help.” 

There’s a kind of doubt that is defiant and cynical. But there’s also a kind that is honest and searching. Thomas’s doubt wasn’t rebellion; it was longing. He didn’t walk away from the disciples. He stayed close. He waited. 

And a week later, Jesus showed up again. 

The Invitation to Believe 

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here… Do not disbelieve, but believe’” (John 20:27). 

Jesus didn’t scold Thomas. He didn’t shame him for needing reassurance. He met him where he was—and invited him to go deeper. 

Thomas responded with one of the clearest confessions of faith in all of Scripture: 

“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) 

That’s not the voice of a skeptic. It’s the voice of someone who has wrestled with doubt and come out on the other side with a faith that’s stronger and more personal than ever. 

Blessed Are Those Who Believe 

Jesus affirmed Thomas’s faith—but He also spoke to future believers: 

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). 

That’s us. We haven’t seen the risen Christ with our eyes, but we believe through the witness of Scripture and the work of the Spirit. And Jesus calls that kind of faith “blessed.” 

But notice—He didn’t rebuke Thomas to make that point. He simply used the moment to extend an invitation to generations to come. 

What Thomas’s Journey Means for Ours 

You may have doubts. You may struggle with questions you can’t answer. You may feel like faith is just out of reach. 

Don’t hide from those doubts. Bring them to Jesus. Stay close to the community of believers. Keep asking, keep listening, and keep waiting. 

Jesus is not threatened by your uncertainty. He meets honest seekers with grace and truth. 

Final Encouragement 

Thomas’s story shows us that doubt doesn’t disqualify us. When brought to Christ, it becomes the doorway to deeper faith. 

So if you’re in a season of spiritual uncertainty, don’t run. Stay near. Ask your questions. And look for the moment when Jesus gently says to you, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 

Because walking by faith isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting the One who does.