Doubting Thomas has become a common phrase to describe someone who refuses to believe without direct personal experience. The term comes from one of Jesus’ twelve disciples named Thomas who doubted the resurrection of Jesus unless he could see and feel Jesus’ wounds himself. While healthy skepticism can be good, being quick to disbelieve can limit our growth in faith. So how can we avoid falling into the trap of doubting Thomas?
Understand the Cause of Doubt
Faith and doubt exist on a spectrum. Some factors that can lead us towards doubt include:
- Negative experiences that make us question God’s goodness
- Intellectual barriers when Christian claims seem unreasonable
- Lack of spiritual experience of God in our lives
- Influence of secular culture that rejects the supernatural
- Disappointment with God when prayers go unanswered
Recognizing what factors influence our doubt can help us address them constructively. Doubts are not necessarily bad, but chronic doubt that leads to unbelief is dangerous for our faith.
Cultivate Faith in God’s Character
Our doubts often come from a place of pain or confusion about who God is. The more we know His loving, just and faithful character, the more our faith can stand strong. Some ways to cultivate faith in God’s character include:
- Reading and meditating on Bible passages about God’s attributes
- Thanking God regularly for His proven faithfulness in our lives
- Spending time in worship to experience God’s presence
- Serving others as a tangible expression of God’s love
- Developing Christian friendships for mutual encouragement
As we enrich our understanding of God’s character, we lean more fully into His loving arms for security and strength.
Evaluate Doubts Against Scripture
The main way we combat lies and deception is with the truth of God’s Word. When we feel plagued by doubts, we can evaluate those doubts against what Scripture teaches. Does our doubt contradict the promises and truths of the Bible? If so, we can reject that doubt as false and unhelpful. As Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word cuts through the haze of doubt with divine truth.
Pursue Christian Community
We were created for Christian fellowship, and isolation breeds doubt. Surrounding ourselves with wise believers who can pray with us, speak truth, and be living examples of faith is vital. As Proverbs 13:20 (ESV) advises, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” God often uses other people to encourage our faith, so we should pursue Christian community.
Ask God for Bold Faith
If our faith feels weak, the solution is asking God for bold faith according to His will. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7 (ESV), “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Coming to God in humble prayer and asking Him to strengthen our faith, transform our doubts, and show us His truth is incredibly powerful. God desires to grant us faith if we simply come to Him and ask in Jesus’ name.
Develop Spiritual Disciplines
Just like physical exercise strengthens our bodies, spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, fasting, worship, and meditation strengthen our faith. By making these practices regular habits, we actively pursue growth rather than stagnation in our Christian walk. We put ourselves in a position to hear from God regularly, which builds our faith muscles over time.
Trust God in Trials
Everyone’s faith wavers in trials, but persevering through those struggles can purify our trust in God. James 1:2-4 (ESV) tells us, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” As we wait patiently on God through difficulties, our faith becomes stronger.
Obey God Even With Lingering Doubts
Sometimes God calls us to obedience before our doubts are fully resolved. As we step out in faith, taking action can build trust and dispel doubt over time. Jesus told Thomas who doubted, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27 ESV). We may need to obey Jesus first before fully understanding later.
Remember the Presence of the Holy Spirit
We are never alone in our struggle with doubt because God’s Spirit lives within every believer. John 14:16-17 (ESV) records Jesus saying, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…for he dwells with you and will be in you.” The Holy Spirit guides us into truth, convicts us of sin, and reminds us of God’s love. Leaning on the Spirit’s ministry reduces doubt.
Don’t Make Irreversible Decisions While Doubting
Doubting seasons are usually temporary. So during turbulent times, we should be cautious about making any irreversible major life decisions, which could have damaging consequences. As Proverbs 19:2 (ESV) warns, “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” It is best to wait, pray, seek counsel, and come to faith before acting drastically.
Trust God to Reveal Himself in Time
Even if some of our deeper questions go unanswered, we can still make the choice to trust God without having everything figured out. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) acknowledges, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s ways are higher, and He often proves Himself trustworthy gradually.
Remember Examples of Faith
When we waver, remembering examples of faithfulness in Scripture and God’s work in history can re-anchor our souls. Hebrews 11 chronicles the stories of saints who persevered by faith without having the full picture. Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) challenges us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” God has proven faithful through generations of believers.
Focus on Taking Next Faithful Step
In seasons of chronic doubt, we may feel overwhelmed trying to force ourselves into perfect faith immediately. But God often leads gradually. We can focus simply on taking our next faithful step, leaving the future in God’s hands. As the Old Testament figure Joshua was told in Joshua 1:9 (ESV), “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” One step at a time.
Remain Patient and Persistent
Doubt leading to faith is usually a process that requires patience and persistence. Jesus prepared his disciples over years before they were ready to believe in the resurrection. God rewarded their perseverance as John 20:28 (ESV) records, “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” We may need to walk through the fire of doubt for a season, but God rewards persistence. Let us not grow weary or lose heart!
Embrace Honest Struggle
Avoiding honest struggle leads to repressed doubt that can reemerge later. But embracing the struggle in raw authenticity before God allows Him to meet us in it. The Psalmists modeled wrestling honestly with doubts and fears before God. Psalm 13:1-2 (ESV) cries out, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” God is big enough to handle our doubts when shared transparently.
Trust God, Not Our Feelings
Feelings are fickle and can betray us in seasons of doubt. But God’s truth remains steady. So when faith feels shaky, we can still declare with the man in Mark 9:24 (ESV), “I believe; help my unbelief!” Our trust ultimately rests on who God is, not how we feel. As Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) promises, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Cry Out for God’s Divine Intervention
Sometimes our doubt seems overwhelming on our own. In those times, we can cry out for God’s divine intervention like the father in Mark 9:24 (ESV) who prayed, “I believe; help my unbelief!” God delights in showing Himself strong on our behalf when we humbly depend on Him. His power can break strongholds of doubt beyond human reasoning as 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV) affirms.
Cling to Christ Our Anchor
When storms of doubt rage, our safest anchor is holding fast to Christ. Hebrews 6:18-19 (ESV) promises, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.” No matter how unsettled we feel, securing ourselves to Christ provides stability. He is both the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
In conclusion, doubt surfaces at times in all our journeys of faith. But remembering God’s proven faithfulness, saturating our minds with Scripture, pursuing Christian community, persevering in obedience, honestly wrestling through questions, and clinging to Christ’s steadfast anchoring presence can help prevent us from remaining a doubting Thomas over the long-term.
