Good morning! May Adonai give you strength, joy, and peace today.
When I was a around
five years old, I remember being promised a visit to watch the car
races at the race track on a Sunday afternoon. That visit never
arrived. I remember that realization that my trust in someone was
misplaced. This started me down a path of automatic distrust of
people. I learned that whatever anyone says, only believe it when you
see it.
In John chapter 20,
we see a disciple of Jesus who walked with Him for 3 years, who is
known for His doubting. He followed Jesus. He obeyed Jesus. But he
also learned to never trust what you don't see. In general, that is
not a bad thing. One does not simply trust a stranger with the keys
to one's house. There has to be a vetting process, some way of making
sure they are genuine and not trying to steal.
Thomas was a lot
like this. He questioned everything. He wasn't going to be led
blindly by emotions and hearsay. This is a good thing. Paul even says
to test the spirits and to search the scriptures to verify what a
person says.
John 20:27-29
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.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him,
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed.”
Most people read
this and say that Jesus is chiding Thomas for doubting. I don't see
that. I believe Jesus was saying to Thomas, "I understand that
you doubt, and I have met you where you needed me to meet you. I love
you. There is no need to doubt me or the words I have spoken any
longer. Many blessings on all those who will believe, having never
gotten to see me and hear me."
We may struggle with
doubt, and that is okay. It is okay to question things. But even in
the midst of doubt, we have to continue to seek God. Even in the
midst of his extreme doubt, confusion, and mourning, he was still
seeking God. Let us never stop seeking God, no matter what doubts we
have. Jesus will meet us where we are, and He will give us what we
need to go on.
-a brother in Jesus
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