It might feel a little strange to talk about belief so soon after Easter.
Just days ago, churches were filled with celebration. The message was clear and joyful: Christ is risen. The tomb is empty. Hope is alive.
And then, almost immediately, the tone shifts.
The Gospel reading that follows Easter each year brings us to a different place—not celebration, but doubt. Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, hears the good news of the resurrection and responds honestly:
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25, NRSV)
It is a jarring transition. But it is also deeply honest.
Because Easter does not remove life’s questions. It meets us in them.
Faith Begins Not with Certainty, but with Trust
Christians have been wrestling with belief from the very beginning. One of the earliest summaries of Christian faith, the Apostles’ Creed, begins simply:
“I believe…”
Not “I understand everything.”
Not “I have no doubts.”
Just: I believe.
But what does that actually mean?
In everyday language, belief often sounds uncertain—like a guess or an opinion. “I believe it might rain,” or “I believe that team will win.”
Biblical faith is something deeper.
The book of Hebrews describes it this way:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith is not about having every answer. It is about trust—trust in a God who is present, even when life is unclear.
To say “I believe in God” is not just agreeing with an idea. It is placing trust in a relationship. It is choosing to rely on God’s presence, grace, and promise.
The Risk of Trust
Trust always involves some level of risk.
To trust is to place weight on something beyond personal control. It means stepping forward without complete certainty.
That is why belief can feel difficult.
It is easier to keep faith at a distance—as something to analyze or discuss. But when belief becomes trust, it becomes personal. It begins to shape choices, relationships, and daily life.
To say “I believe in God” is not just saying something about God—it is saying something about how one chooses to live.
It means trusting that:
- God is present, even in uncertainty (Isaiah 41:10)
- Grace is real, even when it feels undeserved (Ephesians 2:8–9)
- New life is possible, even in places that feel like endings (Romans 6:4)
A Faith That Makes Room for Doubt
This is where Thomas’ story becomes so important.
Thomas is often labeled “Doubting Thomas,” but that misses the point. He is not cynical—he is honest.
He voices what others may have felt but did not say.
And yet, he does something crucial: he stays.
He remains with the community of disciples.
A week later, Jesus appears again. And instead of rebuking Thomas, Jesus meets him in his doubt:
“Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” (John 20:27)
Thomas responds with one of the clearest declarations of faith in Scripture:
“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
This moment reveals something essential:
Faith is not the absence of doubt.
It is trust that grows through encounter.
When Doubt Is Part of the Journey
Doubt is often treated as the enemy of faith. But Scripture tells a different story.
A desperate father once said to Jesus:
“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
That is not failure. That is faith in motion.
Questions, uncertainty, and even struggle can be part of a growing, living faith. Trust deepens over time, shaped by experience, reflection, and encounter with God.
There is space for questions. There is room to grow.
Living by What We Cannot Yet See
Faith calls people to trust beyond what is immediately visible.
As Paul writes:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
This is not blind optimism. It is trust grounded in who God has already shown Godself to be—Creator, Redeemer, and the One who brings life out of death.
The resurrection is not just something to believe intellectually. It is something to live from.
It means hope is not empty.
It means endings are not final.
It means God is still at work—even when it cannot be seen.
Faith Is Something We Practice
In the Wesleyan tradition, faith has always been understood as more than agreement—it is trust in Christ that shapes a life.
Faith grows through grace:
- Prevenient grace: God is already at work before we respond (1 John 4:19)
- Justifying grace: trust in Christ restores relationship with God (Romans 5:1)
- Sanctifying grace: that trust continues to shape daily life (Philippians 1:6)
Faith is not a one-time statement. It is something practiced over time.
It grows through ordinary, steady rhythms:
- Prayer
- Scripture
- Worship
- Acts of love and service
These practices form a life of trust, even when certainty feels out of reach.
We Do Not Believe Alone
Although the Creed begins with “I,” faith is never meant to be lived in isolation.
Scripture reminds us:
“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together…” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
Faith is strengthened in community.
There are seasons when belief feels strong, and seasons when it feels fragile. In those moments, the community carries faith together.
Thomas encountered Christ not on his own, but among others.
What Trust Looks Like in Everyday Life
Faith is not just something spoken—it is something lived.
It shows up in quiet, ordinary ways:
- Choosing forgiveness over resentment (Colossians 3:13)
- Practicing generosity instead of scarcity (2 Corinthians 9:6–8)
- Holding onto hope in uncertain times (Romans 15:13)
Sometimes, trust looks like continuing to show up—even with questions.
Sometimes, it looks like praying honestly.
Sometimes, it is simply taking the next faithful step.
Beginning Again with “I Believe”
In the end, belief is not about having everything figured out.
It is about relationship.
Thomas’ declaration—“My Lord and my God”—is not just a statement. It is personal. It is relational. It is trust.
And that is where faith begins for everyone.
“I believe” may be spoken with confidence.
Or with hesitation.
Or even with questions.
But it is enough.
Not because everything is certain—
but because Christ is present.
And that is where trust begins.
Pieces of the Puzzle 