Stop Doubting And Believe

 

John 20: 24-29

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “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.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

When we walk in the dark challenge of unanswered prayers, we might want concrete evidence, as did Thomas. We want answers and they do not come; we feel lost and shaky, "Why, Lord?  Where are you?  Answer me." Thomas refused to believe the word of his companions and demanded concrete evidence. That he received with such clarity, that his obstinacy melted and he acknowledged the living presence of Jesus, who used this moment to teach us that "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (Jn 20: 29). We ought to make this our mantra when we find ourselves plagued with doubt and fatigue from repeating the same prayer over and over and apparently receiving no answer. May Thomas pray for us of little faith, and may we come to believe as he did, even when we do not see as he did.

Bro. Rene.