John 20:19-31

Be Still: As I pause in this moment of reflection, Lord, draw near to me. Fill me with Your Spirit, renew my mind, and speak to the depths of my heart. Amen

Read: John 20:19-31

So the other disciples told 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.' (vv28-29)

Encounter: One of the privileges of my job role is hearing countless stories, many told by gifted storytellers. Yet, I often wonder how much embellishment has shaped the truth.

I once heard a remarkable story. A man lost his false teeth while swimming at the beach. Weeks later, someone he knew was walking along the same shoreline when he noticed a set of dentures resting at the water’s edge. Curious, he picked them up and brought them home, only to discover they belonged to the person who had lost them.

It sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? Yet, I know the people involved, and I can confirm it’s true.

This reminds me of Thomas’s response to the news that Jesus was alive. It wasn’t stubborn disbelief – it was the kind of doubt that longs for certainty. He had walked with Jesus, seen the miracles, and believed in his words. But now, the story felt too extraordinary. His doubt wasn’t rejection; it was an ache for something real.

Jesus didn’t see doubt as a failure. He saw it as an opportunity. When he appeared to Thomas, he didn’t just prove himself – he gave Thomas exactly what he needed. Thomas’s moment of hesitation became a moment of revelation.

Apply: We often think of doubt as dangerous, something that distances us from faith. What if doubt isn’t a wall – it’s a doorway? Jesus didn’t silence Thomas’s questions; he welcomed them.

Maybe your faith feels unsteady right now. Maybe you’re wrestling with questions about God’s presence or wondering if he’s truly at work in your life. The good news is that Jesus isn’t put off by your doubt. He invites you to bring it to him, not so he can shame you, but so he can meet you there.

Faith doesn’t mean never doubting – it means trusting Jesus enough to bring your doubts to him. When we do, he doesn’t just offer answers; he offers himself.

Will you step through the doorway of doubt today?

Devote: Lord, I bring all my doubt and unbelieving to you. Come and meet me in my questioning today.