Doubting God? That question carries far more weight than the advertising slogans we’ve heard over the years—“Got Milk?,” “Where’s the Beef?,” or “Wanna Get Away?” For people of faith, it can spark deep concern, even panic.
But the truth is, doubt is something all of us experience at some point.
Just a few weeks ago, Christians celebrated Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. But the Easter story doesn’t end at the empty tomb—it begins there. Scripture records 13 appearances of Jesus after his resurrection, from meeting the women at the tomb, to sharing breakfast on the beach with his disciples, to appearing to more than 500 people at once.
Yet amid the celebration, one quiet detail stands out: “When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some of them doubted” (Matthew 28:17, NLT).
Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. It’s often part of the journey toward deeper belief.
Even after seeing the risen Christ, some disciples still wrestled with uncertainty. One of them, famously known as “Doubting Thomas,” wasn’t present during Jesus’ first appearance. Thomas refused to believe unless he could see the wounds himself. But Thomas wasn’t being defiant.
He was being honest. When Jesus appeared again, Thomas was there. Jesus went straight to him and said, “Put your finger here…Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe.” (John 20:27).
Jesus didn’t shame Thomas. He invited him closer. He met him in his doubt.
We live in a time when asking questions, especially about faith, can feel like betrayal. But Scripture is full of doubters: John the Baptist, Thomas, Peter. Each had moments of uncertainty and still lived boldly for God.
So why do we doubt? Sometimes it’s unanswered questions, such as Bible passages that seem confusing or contradict science or history. Sometimes it’s pain we can’t explain: war, racism, personal suffering. And sometimes, it’s wounds inflicted by the faith community itself.
But doubt, when handled with honesty and courage, can become the soil where stronger faith grows.
Faith isn’t a destination. You don’t earn a diploma in belief. It’s a journey, one filled with valleys, shadows and questions. Yet even in those moments, God is present. As Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me.”
If you’re doubting today, don’t run from God. Bring your questions to him. Keep walking. Keep searching. Keep showing up. Your doubts don’t disqualify your faith—they might just lead you deeper into it.
Will Sawkins is the lead pastor of Community Christian, with campuses in Morgan Hill and San Jose. He can be reached at wi**@*****************an.us.
