Have you ever experienced doubt or disappointment because a situation didn’t turn out the way you expected?This is a common experience—and Christians are not immune to it. Sometimes, we even find ourselves questioning God or feeling like He has failed us because of our unmet expectations.
But experiences like these do not have to undermine our faith. Thanks to Jesus, they can actually become moments of personal revival for us. Luke 24:13-32 is proof of that.
Shortly after His death, the newly resurrected Jesus appeared to two disciples as they walked and talked about recent events. They didn’t recognize Him until later, but Jesus’ interaction with these struggling disciples reveal three ways Jesus can also help us through our doubts and disappointments, today.
In Luke 24:17-19, Jesus (whom the disciples didn’t recognize) asked them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?” They responded, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened…in these days?” and Jesus, nudging them to share more, replied, “What things?”
These two men were full of mixed emotions and confused thoughts about Jesus and God’s plan. As they later shared, they had been “hoping that it was [Jesus] who would redeem Israel…” but He had ended up being crucified. (Luke 24:20-21) They didn’t know what to think! Now, people were telling them that the tomb was empty and that angels were declaring His resurrection.
ONE. Jesus meets us where we are.
If you read the disciples’ summary of events, in verses 19-24, it is easy to spot their doubt, disappointment and overall confusion. And yet I think it’s interesting to consider: in that very instant, Jesus could have revealed Himself as the resurrected Lord and “fixed it all” for the disciples. They could have skipped over all their messy processing and jumped straight to rejoicing. But Jesus did not do that. Instead, He took time to acknowledge their feelings and listen to their thoughts about all that had happened. He met them right where they were.
Jesus often does the same thing for us. In the middle of our doubts and disappointments, Jesus invites us to be real with Him about our struggles. Why? Perhaps, it’s because honest conversation produces more spiritual growth and communion than quick fixes ever could.
Jesus reaches out to meet us, His people, in our struggles—only sometimes, like the disciples, we don’t recognize it. Maybe that’s because He continues to show up differently than we expect. We want Jesus to show up with quick fixes that take away our doubts and disappointments. Instead, He often shows up with a slower fix. He comes to help us work through our doubts and disappointments, day by day, and moment by moment. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to Christ’s presence with us on this bumpy road of life.
TWO. Jesus reminds us of who He is.
In Luke 24:25-27, right after the disciples’ confused summary of recent events, we read this: “He said to them, ‘Foolish people, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?’ Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Jesus helped the disciples work through their doubt and confusion by taking them back to the truth of God’s Word. From the very beginning, Scripture had revealed who Jesus was. It foretold that the Messiah would die and be resurrected, just like it ended up happening in Jesus’ story. So, as the disciples walked that day, Jesus explained who He was by taking them back to the Scriptures.
Similarly, Jesus helps us work through our doubts and disappointments when we turn our attention back to the Word of God. You see, even if Scripture doesn’t spell out the “why” behind our circumstances, it always spells out the “who” behind them. It reveals the trustworthy character of our sovereign Lord, who created us, saved us, and is working out a good plan behind the scenes of our lives.
The truth about Jesus is what we most need in the midst of our struggles. His unchanging character is an anchor in the whirlwind of our doubt and emotion.
So today, let’s open up our Bibles and seek to work through our doubts and disappointments Jesus’ way—by refocusing on who He is. The wonderful thing about it is that we won’t be alone as we do so. Just like Jesus taught the disciples as they walked, Christ’s Spirit will teach us as we read.
THREE. Jesus revives our hearts.
In Luke 24:32, after the disciples finally recognized Jesus around the dinner table, they said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”
Doubts and disappointments can take a toll on our faith. Over time, our prayers can become less frequent and our hearts can become less fervent. But when we engage in conversation with Jesus in the midst of our confusion and turmoil, those feelings don’t get the final say. Instead, Jesus’ words do—and His Words bring life. They can revive the dying embers of hope, faith and conviction in us.
So, don’t despair if your faith is feeling a little dull and distant these days. Keep listening for the voice of Jesus in Scripture, as you walk through life. His Word will do its reviving work. Whether or not you feel it in the moment, one day you will look back and recognize how He was fanning the flame in your heart, keeping faith alive—and even making it stronger.
Thanks to Jesus, moments of doubt and disappointment do not have to undermine our faith. Instead, they can lead to personal revival, as we walk and talk with Jesus.
This devotion is based on one of the Scriptures from my 2025 reading plan: “A Year in the Gospels” To receive a copy of the reading plan (and future reading plans), sign up for the email list below. Hope you’ll follow along! You can also learn more about my Scripture over Screentime experiment here.
Written by Paige K. Burhans
©2025 Paige K. Burhans
Scriptures taken from the World English Bible British Edition. Public Domain.
