5-Day Devotional: Doubts at the Table

Day 1: The Doubter in All of Us

Scripture: John 20:24-25
“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.” – John 20:25 (CEB)

Reflection:
Thomas wasn’t being cynical. He was being honest. Like many of us, he needed more than secondhand stories—he needed something real. Doubt wasn’t his rejection of faith; it was his desire for something trustworthy. Sometimes we forget that God is not threatened by our uncertainty. Jesus doesn’t shame Thomas for his doubt. He makes space for it—and He’ll do the same for us.

Prayer:
Jesus, I admit that sometimes I wrestle with doubts. Help me not to hide them, but to bring them to You honestly. Thank You for welcoming me, questions and all. Amen.

Reflect or Journal:
What doubts or questions have you wrestled with in your faith journey? What would it look like to bring those honestly to Jesus?

Day 2: Jesus Shows Up

Scripture: John 20:26
“After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, ‘Peace be with you.’” – John 20:26 (CEB)

Reflection:
Jesus didn’t wait for Thomas to get it all together. He showed up in the locked room—right into Thomas’s uncertainty. Jesus often comes quietly into our own locked rooms: our hidden fears, our quiet disappointments, our lingering doubts. He brings peace, not pressure. He meets us where we are—not where we pretend to be.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for entering my locked rooms. When I’m unsure, scared, or confused, remind me that You are near. Help me receive Your peace. Amen.

Reflect or Journal:
What “locked room” in your life needs the peace of Jesus right now?

Day 3: The Invitation, Not the Rebuke

Scripture: John 20:27
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!’” – John 20:27 (CEB)

Reflection:
Jesus’ invitation to Thomas is personal and patient. He doesn’t rebuke; He invites. The wounds of Jesus become the place where doubt is turned into faith. He offers Thomas what he needs, not because Thomas

earned it—but because grace meets us in our honest places. God isn’t offended by our questions. He lovingly invites us into deeper trust.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being patient with me. Thank You for inviting me closer, even when I struggle to believe. Help me trust that Your scars tell a story of love I can depend on. Amen.

Reflect or Journal:
How does Jesus’ gentle invitation to Thomas shape the way you think about your own questions or the questions of others?

Day 4: From Doubt to Declaration

Scripture: John 20:28
“Thomas responded to Jesus, ‘My Lord and my God!’” – John 20:28 (CEB)

Reflection:
Thomas goes from doubt to one of the strongest declarations of faith in all of Scripture. Why? Because Jesus met him in the middle of his doubt and didn’t leave him there. Faith doesn’t always come through certainty—it often comes through experience. Jesus didn’t push Thomas to perform a perfect faith. He led him into a personal encounter.

Prayer:
Jesus, let my doubts become stepping stones to a stronger faith. Lead me into a deeper encounter with You. I want to say with all my heart, “My Lord and my God!” Amen.

Reflect or Journal:
What experiences have helped transform your doubt into deeper trust? What could help you take another step toward faith today?

Day 5: Blessed Without Seeing

Scripture: John 20:29
“Jesus replied, ‘Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.’” – John 20:29 (CEB)

Reflection:
We may not get to touch Jesus’ wounds, but we are not left without evidence of His love. Through Scripture, through community, through His Spirit—we receive enough to trust Him. Jesus calls us “blessed” when we believe, even when we haven’t seen with our eyes. This is faith: choosing to trust the One who continues to show up in surprising ways.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You that even when I don’t see everything, I can still trust You. Give me eyes to notice Your presence and a heart that chooses faith. Amen.

Reflect or Journal:
Where have you seen glimpses of Jesus in your life lately? How might you live today in light of the blessing of faith?