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Don’t Doubt But Believe!

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28 ESV


When I see God our Creator in the amazing beauty of creation, it is hard to doubt His goodness.

I love the story of “doubting Thomas” in John. Maybe because I, and many of us, at one time or another, have had doubts. Doubts about why God allows things to happen to us or those we love. Doubts about why sometimes God seems far from us even though we know He is with us. Doubts about our past, our faith, our journey, our… I’m sure you can fill in your own doubts.

After His resurrection Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdeline and to the other women who had gone to the tomb. That evening Jesus appeared to 10 of His disciples who were in a locked room, fearful of what would happen to them after Jesus’ death. Jesus showed them His hands and side and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21b

But Thomas missed the meeting! And when the disciples told him that they had seen Jesus and what He had said, Thomas refused to believe, he had doubts. Thomas said, “Unless I see his hands and the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25b

Eight days later Jesus returned to the disciples and Thomas was with them. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas, He accepted him and his doubt and gently invited Thomas to see His hands and to touch His side, and to hear His voice and believe. And Thomas did believe, he is the first to call Jesus, God!

Even when we have doubts and are a “doubting Thomas” we can talk to Jesus and give our doubts to Him. Jesus will accept us and our doubts, he will gently forgive and invite us to believe. And He will bless us. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29b

This week if you are having doubts, take them to Jesus and lay them down at His feet…and believe.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we lay down our doubts and strengthen our faith in all Jesus has done for us.

Blessings and believing!

8 comments

  1. Thank you for this post. Thomas was a complex man. Although open his doubts, when Jesus was about to return where the Jews previously tried to stone him, “Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
    ‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

    I find myself comforted by Thomas’ faith amid his doubts.

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  4. I have a close family member who is really an extremist. If she thinks anyone is doubting or having a spiritual crisis, she comes down very, very hard on that person, to the point of condeming them to hell. It’s made talking about spirituality a taboo aound her and I refuse to do it. I have my own doubts for some very good reasons, and have been experiencing a spiritual crisis for decades. I keep thinking about Thomas and how Jesus didn’t condemn him for doubting, but rather showed Thomas proof and reassured him in love. It’s a struggle for me sometimes to deal with spiritual issues, given my background and obstacles I face daily. I much rather prefer Jesus’ reaction to Thomas than my family member’s reaction to me, you know? Extremism has no place in this world–it just drives people away.

    What a timely well-penned essay, Peggy. Thanks for sharing this message, my friend. 😊

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    • Sorry to hear about your family member who condemns instead of supports. That attitude helps no one. We all have doubts from time to time, things we can’t understand. But our God is a loving God who accepts us where we are and helps us in our struggles.

      I agree with you totally, extremism of any type pushes others away and alienates pretty much everyone.

      Blessings, my friend!

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