Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. — John 20:27
Many years ago, I stood at the edge of a significant career change. I had worked as a paramedic for years, and an opportunity had presented itself to move into management. As I considered it, I could think of a million reasons I was not qualified. The doubt was loud, and it felt entirely reasonable. Who was I to step into something that far outside my experience? The easy answer was to stay where I was comfortable and let the opportunity pass.
But my wife kept encouraging me to try. She said even if I did not get the position, the attempt itself would help me. So I pushed through the doubt and applied.
Not only did I get the position, it set me on a career path I could never have anticipated. The people I met, the lives I influenced, and the lives that influenced me are countless. Doors opened that I did not know existed. Opportunities came that I never would have found if I had stayed safely inside my doubt.
Had I remained there, none of it would have happened.
Thomas understands that place.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, Thomas was not in the room. By the time he heard what had happened, his doubt had already settled in. He had not seen what the others had seen, and he was not willing to believe based on their word alone. He wanted proof. He wanted to see the wounds for himself.
It would be easy to judge him for that. But Thomas was not unique in his doubt, he was simply honest about it.
What happened next is one of the most tender moments in all of the gospels. Jesus appeared again. And this time Thomas was there. Jesus did not rebuke him harshly or disqualify him for his questions. He walked right into the middle of Thomas’s doubt and offered him exactly what he needed. Reach hither thy finger. Behold my hands. Be not faithless, but believing.
Jesus met him where he was.
Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Unbelief is. Doubt is what happens when faith is wrestling with something it cannot yet fully see. And the good news of this passage is that Jesus does not turn away from people who are wrestling. He shows up in the middle of the struggle and says, here I am. Look. Now believe.
The doubt you are carrying today is not a disqualifier. It may feel like the most reasonable response to what you are facing. The opportunity may seem beyond your ability. The promise may seem too large for your situation. The gap between where you are and where God is asking you to go may feel impossibly wide.
But doubt left unchallenged has a cost. The moments that never happen. The doors that never open. The path that never unfolds because we stayed safely inside what we could already see.
Jesus is not threatened by your questions. He walks right into them. And His invitation on the other side of doubt is always the same.
Doubt asks what if I fail. Faith asks what if God is right.
Sometimes the most meaningful encouragement comes from hearing how God is meeting people in ordinary moments.
If you would like to share your story or ask for prayer, we would love to hear from you at anotherwell.org.
These devotionals are written to encourage, challenge, and support you in your walk with God. If they are meaningful to you, you can subscribe and receive them by email.
About Another Well Ministries
Another Well Ministries exists to help people slow down, listen deeply, and encounter God in the ordinary places of life. Through devotionals, reflections, and spiritual resources, we seek to create space for faith to be formed with honesty, grace, and hope.
To learn more about the heart of the ministry or explore additional resources, visit anotherwell.org.
