Doubting Thomas Believes
Month 7: He Is Risen! — Why We Believe · Heart Matters
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 20:24–29
24 Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Memory Verse
“Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.””— Luke 24:39 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Isaiah 27–30
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 198 of 365 — Isaiah warns and comforts, calling people back to trust in the Lord.)The Heart of It
Thomas missed it. When Jesus first appeared to the disciples, Thomas wasn't there. And he just could not bring himself to believe what they told him. "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands… I will never believe" (). For a whole week he carried that doubt. Then Jesus came again. He didn't scold Thomas. He turned straight to him and offered the very thing Thomas had asked for. "Put your finger here and look at My hands… Stop doubting and believe." Thomas didn't even need to touch Him. He fell to his knees. "My Lord and my God!" The doubter became one of the boldest worshipers in the whole Bible.
Here's the heart of it. Jesus is gentle with honest doubt. He didn't shame Thomas. He didn't shut him out. He met him right where he was and gave him what he needed to believe. Doubts are not the opposite of faith. Unbelief that refuses to come to Jesus is. So if you ever wrestle with hard questions, you don't have to hide them. You don't have to feel like a bad Christian. Bring them to Jesus, just like Thomas did. And notice Jesus' last word. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (). That's you and me. We didn't see the scars with our own eyes. Yet because of these trustworthy witnesses, we believe. And Jesus calls us blessed.
Around the Table
Thomas wasn't sure Jesus was alive — until he saw Him! Then he said, "My Lord and my God!"
Let's do it: Cup your hands like you're holding a question, then open them wide and say, "Jesus, I believe!"
Jesus was kind to Thomas in his doubt, and He helped him believe. We can bring our hard questions to Jesus too.
Let's talk: Is it okay to have questions about God? Who can we bring our questions to?
Honest doubt that seeks Jesus is welcome. Stubborn unbelief that refuses Him is the danger. Jesus calls us blessed for believing without seeing.
Let's go deeper: What is a question about faith you've wondered about? Where could you go to find a good answer?
💬 Conversation Starter
Has anyone ever told you something so amazing you couldn't believe it at first? What finally convinced you it was true?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
When someone says, "You shouldn't believe what you can't see," remind them that Thomas wanted proof too. And Jesus gave it to him. We don't believe without reasons. We trust reliable eyewitnesses, the same way we trust history we didn't see for ourselves. Faith and evidence walk together ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
How you handle your kids' doubts will shape whether they keep walking with Jesus. Many young people leave the faith, not because their questions were too hard, but because home felt like the worst place to ask them. Watch how Jesus treated Thomas. No shaming. No panic. Just patient love and an answer. Make your table a place where "I'm not sure I believe that" is met with curiosity instead of fear. Your calm confidence preaches a sermon all its own. A faith strong enough to welcome hard questions is a faith worth keeping. And live it yourself. Let your kids see you bring your own struggles honestly to the Lord.
Draws on: Natasha Crain, Keeping Your Kids on God's Side; and Paul Tripp, Parenting.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You for being so patient with Thomas. Thank You for being patient with us too. When we have doubts, help us bring them to You. And help us say with all our hearts, 'My Lord and my God!' In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus welcomes my honest questions, and He meets me with Himself.