Finding Jesus in your Doubts

Doubting is not a bad thing per se, but a good thing if it causes you to think more deeply about your faith. Easter is just around the corner. Reading through the gospels it’s clear there were doubts aplenty as the disciples were trying to figure it all out. Their doubts were a big deal. In a myriad of ways, Jesus settled their doubts, even with “Doubting Thomas” as he came to be called.

Brad Jenkins, Lead Pastor at Anthem Church in Tulsa, shares some very help ideas in finding Jesus in your doubts

Guest Post by Brad Jenkins

When was the last time you had doubts about your faith?

I’m not talking about a passing question or a fleeting moment of uncertainty. I mean a real, gut-wrenching doubt that made you wonder if everything you believed was actually true.

For many of us, admitting our doubts feels like a spiritual failure. We push these thoughts down, hoping they’ll disappear if we ignore them long enough. We smile in church while inwardly wrestling with questions we’re afraid to speak aloud.

But what if I told you that your doubts aren’t a sign of weak faith but potentially the pathway to stronger faith?

Here’s something that might surprise you…

Jesus Isn’t Afraid of Your Questions

There’s a fascinating story in the Bible about two disciples walking away from Jerusalem after Jesus’ crucifixion. They had believed Jesus was the promised Messiah, but now their hopes were crushed. Their faith was in shambles.

What happens next is remarkable:

“Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him” (Luke 24:15-16).

Did you catch that? Jesus wasn’t waiting back in Jerusalem for these doubters to figure things out and return. He went after them. Jesus pursued them in the midst of their disillusionment.

And even more amazing — Jesus didn’t immediately reveal himself. Instead, he walked with them, listened to their doubts, and engaged with their questions before making himself known.

That’s not the behavior of someone who’s offended by doubt. That’s the response of someone who understands doubt and uses it as an entry point for a deeper relationship.

A Seat for Everyone: Where You Are in the Story

Imagine a table with Jesus seated at the head. Five empty chairs surround him, each representing a different spiritual position. Each of these is a type of seeker and the place they are in their journey:

The Curious – You’re interested in Jesus but not committed. You’re leaning in, asking questions, wondering if there’s something to this faith thing.
The Doubter – You have significant questions and skepticism. You want to believe, but you need intellectual honesty and answers first.
The Indifferent – You haven’t given much thought to faith. It’s not that you’re against it; it’s just not on your radar.
The Wounded – You’ve been hurt by religious people or institutions. Or perhaps life’s pain has made God seem distant or uncaring.
The Believer – You have faith, though it might waver at times. You’ve committed your life to following Jesus.

Here’s the beautiful truth: Jesus has a chair at his table with your name on it, no matter which category best describes you right now.

The Difference Between Seekers and Skeptics

There’s an important distinction we need to make. A seeker is looking for truth, hoping to find that God is real. A skeptic is looking for problems, hoping to confirm that faith is foolish.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were seekers. When Jesus acted as if he would continue on his journey, “they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us’” (Luke 24:29). They wanted more of his presence, more of his teaching, more truth.

That’s the heart of a seeker—one who says, “God, if you’re real, help me to believe.”

Doubt Is Part of the Journey

Doubt is normal. Even the spiritual giants in the Bible had moments of questioning God:

Abraham laughed when God promised him a son in his old age
Moses argued with God at the burning bush
David cried out, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?”
John the Baptist, from prison, sent messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

These weren’t people with weak faith. They were people with real faith—faith that could acknowledge questions rather than pretend they didn’t exist.

What Happens When We Bring Our Doubts to the Table?

In the Emmaus story, something beautiful happens when the disciples invited Jesus to stay with them: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31).

At the table—in fellowship, in conversation, in communion—their eyes were opened. And then they exclaimed, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).

This is what authentic faith looks like. Not the absence of questions, but the presence of a burning heart that recognizes Jesus in the midst of our questions.

Turning Questions Into Spiritual Growth

So how do we move forward when doubts arise? Here are some practical steps:

Acknowledge your doubts honestly – Name them. Write them down. Speak them aloud to a trusted friend. Bringing doubts into the light diminishes their power.
Bring your doubts directly to Jesus – Pray honestly. The most authentic prayer might be, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Stay at the table – Don’t walk away from community when questions arise. Like the Emmaus disciples, it’s often in fellowship that our eyes are opened.
Seek answers, but understand that faith isn’t just intellectual – Read, study, ask questions. But remember that faith isn’t simply about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the One who does.
Look for Jesus in unexpected places – The disciples didn’t recognize Jesus until he broke bread. Sometimes God reveals himself in ways and places we least expect.

God’s Promise for the Seeker

There’s a beautiful promise in Jeremiah 29:13-14 for anyone sincerely seeking God despite their doubts:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD.”

This isn’t a promise that all your questions will be answered. It’s better than that—it’s a promise that the One who holds all answers will be found by you.

You might be the curious, the doubter, the indifferent, the wounded or the true believer.

No matter which seat you’re in—there’s room for you to sit and talk with Jesus.

He wants you to come to the table.

And if you will… Jesus will give you the courage to believe despite your doubts

Take Action

Here’s my challenge: Choose ONE action for the next 30 days that will help you process your doubts in a healthy way:

Start a “doubt journal” where you honestly record your questions and the insights you gain
Meet weekly with a mature believer who won’t be threatened by your questions
Read a book that addresses your specific area of doubt
Practice daily gratitude, naming one thing each day that points to God’s goodness
Pray daily, “God, if you’re real, help me to believe.”

Remember, Jesus doesn’t demand perfect faith. He meets us in our imperfect faith and walks with us through our questions.