I used to think I had it all figured out. Growing up in a mad city, I was the “good kid.” I never missed church, followed all the rules, checked all the boxes. I believed if I just did everything right, I’d be safe from most of life’s storms. My faith was a shield, or so I thought.
Then came the call that changed everything: my mother had suddenly passed away. In an instant, my siblings and I became orphans. There I was, the good Christian kid, standing in the wreckage of a life I thought God was supposed to protect.
That’s when the questions started. The doubt crept in. Everything I thought I knew about God, about faith, about how this whole “Christian life” thing was supposed to work. It was all up for grabs. And you know what I discovered? Doubt wasn’t the enemy I’d been taught to fear. Instead, it became the doorway to a faith deeper than I’d ever known.
If you’re a man wrestling with similar questions, maybe it’s not the loss of a parent, a failed business, a struggling marriage, or a crisis of faith. I want you to know something: you’re not alone, and your doubts don’t make you less of a believer. In fact, they might just be the beginning of your strongest faith yet.
Let’s talk about another man who dared to doubt: Thomas.
Let’s be honest for a minute. As men, we often feel pressure to have it all figured out—our faith, our families, our futures. But what if I told you that one of Jesus’s closest followers struggled with the same doubts many of us face today?
Enter Thomas, often labeled as “Doubting Thomas.” But here’s the thing: Thomas wasn’t some skeptic looking to stir up trouble. He was a man facing reality head-on, refusing to accept easy answers or second-hand faith.
The Reality Check
Think about it. Thomas had witnessed Jesus’s crucifixion. He saw his leader—his friend—die a gruesome death. Then his buddies come telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” His response? “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
This isn’t stubbornness. That’s honesty. It’s what happens when life hits hard and those simple answers we grew up with don’t cut it anymore:
“God has a wonderful plan for your life…”
“Everything happens for a reason…”
“God won’t give you more than you can handle…”
Sound familiar? These “well-meaning” cliches crumble when you’re watching your father die of cancer at 13, when your marriage is on the rocks, or when your business is failing despite your best efforts.
Welcome to the Complex World
Our world isn’t simple anymore. Every decision we make as men carries layers of complexity:
– Leading our families through uncertain times
– Navigating workplace challenges
– Making ethical choices in a morally ambiguous world
– Balancing responsibilities while maintaining our spiritual life
And here’s the kicker: Jesus doesn’t shy away from this complexity. He meets it head-on.
The Game-Changing Encounter
A week after Thomas expressed his doubts, Jesus shows up. No judgment. No lecture. Instead, He says, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.”
Jesus kept His wounds. Let that sink in.
The risen Christ, in His glorified body, chose to keep His scars. Why?
Because He understands that real faith isn’t about avoiding wounds but finding meaning in them.
The Path Forward
Here’s what I’ve learned about doubt through Thomas’s story:
1. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith—it’s often the doorway to deeper faith
2. Real faith can handle tough questions
3. Sometimes God makes us wait (Thomas waited a week) because timing matters
4. The strongest faith often comes through wrestling with our honest doubts
The Transformation
Thomas’s response to seeing Jesus? “My Lord and my God!” This wasn’t just a relief-filled “Oh, you’re alive!” This was the most profound declaration of faith in all four Gospels. His doubt led to the deepest kind of belief.
Your Journey
Men, if you’re wrestling with doubt today, know this: You’re not alone, and you’re not failing. Whether you’re:
– Questioning old beliefs that no longer seem to hold up
– Struggling to lead your family through difficult times
– Trying to make sense of suffering and disappointment
– Seeking authentic faith in a complex world
Your doubts don’t disqualify you from faith. They might just be the beginning of a deeper journey with God.
Remember what Thomas Merton said: “You cannot be a man of faith unless you know how to doubt.” Your questions, struggles, and honest wrestling with God aren’t signs of weakness. They’re opportunities for transformation.
The same Jesus who met Thomas in his doubt is ready to meet you in yours. And sometimes, like Thomas, the deepest worship comes after the hardest questions.
What doubts are you wrestling with today? Don’t run from them.
They might just be the doorway to your next level of growth.
