I have a special empathy for doubting Thomas. Haven’t we all seen trouble brewing but had no power to stop it?
Concerns range from, “Please put that up before it breaks,” to “Your behavior will destroy our family if you don’t stop,” to “These policies are demolishing our nation.” You helplessly watch the consequences you predicted roll down.
Jesus’s disciple Thomas surely felt this frustration when the soldiers hauled Jesus off the night of His betrayal. Hadn’t Thomas warned them that returning to Jerusalem would mean death (Jn. 11:16)?
Thomas had been right. Trouble lay ahead for Jesus in Jerusalem. But Jesus hadn’t listened. And Thomas had to watch the worst happen. If only Jesus had heeded his warning.
I bet you remember times when someone didn’t take your concerns seriously. You both suffered the consequences. My unheeded warnings have resulted in a broken mirror, a car wreck, and someone entering a marriage that hurt many. How do we count it all joy (James 1:2) when these trials could have been avoided, if only someone had listened?
Thomas Refused to Hope
Thomas refused to believe anything good could come out of something as bad as what he’d seen happen to Jesus, especially since it could have been avoided.
When the resurrected Jesus visited the disciples, Thomas was not with them. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
He replied,
I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side’ (Jn. 20:25 NLT).
Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection many times, but the disciples couldn’t grasp it. From earth’s viewpoint, betrayal and crucifixion couldn’t produce anything good.
Understanding Thomas’s doubts, Jesus addressed them.
“Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’” (Jn. 20:26-27 NLT).
Hope Found Thomas
What promises have you doubted? When what we feared happens and we can’t see how any good can come from it, do we dare believe God’s promise “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28 NIV)?
When what we feared happens and we can't see how any good can come from it, do we dare believe God’s promise “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28)? #hope, #Jesus Click To TweetThomas saw Jesus, and his faith returned.
‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me’” (Jn. 20:28-29 NLT).
Christian artist TobyMac discussed the loss of his twenty-one-year-old son in a YouTube interview. He said he believes if he could visit heaven and see his son, his son would say, “Dad, if you could only see what I see.”
“And it’s not necessarily what heaven looks like. It’s how this thing all works. It’s like how… leaving this life early isn’t necessarily a rip-off. Like it’s ‘no, you don’t understand yet, Dad. You don’t get it. You don’t get it at all.’”
Every day we choose between faith and doubt. We can choose to believe God’s promises and experience comfort and hope. Or like Thomas, before Jesus found him, we can trust our eyes and live in fear and disappointment.
Jesus found Thomas in his doubts. He won’t ever leave or forsake you either. Stop doubting and believe.
Blessings,
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#InspireMeMonday, #InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory and here , #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Recharge Wednesday, #Grace&Truth,
Isn’t it amazing how hope finds us when we quit struggling ourselves and stop to rely upon our faith? Oh, how my heart breaks for those lost souls who are unable to find hope. When a neighbor commits suicide, when a teen quits school and tunes out all but what they think will bring them rest, peace, or comfort. In all these cases, they find that without hope, without faith, without love, the world is an empty place. I pray daily that God helps me to show them how they too can find hope. God’s blessings Ms. Debbie; and thank you for this most-inspiring lesson today.
Yes, J.D., if we’ll allow Him in, He can bring hope to the most disillusioned and sad heart. I know God hears your prayers.
Debbie that is powerful. I love what you shared about not seeing from the right perspective. We can never see it all on our own and in our own power. But we can trust He does. Love this.
Ann, how many time has God shown me in hindsight His sovereign hand. I want to trust Him when I don’t see.
Everyday we choose between faith and doubt. That is so true! Thank you for your words and wisdom.
Thank you, Mary. So good to hear from you.
You summed it up with “the disciples couldn’t grasp it…”
You express what I often feel.
Thanks, Debbie.
Thank you, Marilyn. We need Jesus’s help to grasp the reality of His promises.
Beautiful Debbie! Thank you for the encouragement!
Thank you, C.J.!
I’ve always had sympathy for Thomas. I’ve certainly doubted often enough. I’m thankful that our God is the God of love, faith and trust. Thank you for your inspiring message of hope.
Thank you, Katherine!
Deb, for a long time, Thomas has been an encouragement for me. There have been seasons when I’ve doubted. When I’ve feared the worst case becoming reality. And still, Jesus met me there in my weakness and doubt. And He showed His faithfulness when I was faithless for a time. I love how Thomas went on to become a powerful evangelist in the far East, bringing many to the Lord in his lifetime.
Jeanne, thank you for adding that bit of history. How wonderful that God still uses those with imperfect faith!
I’ve always loved Thomas — probably because I find myself in those same shoes more often than I’d like to admit. Thankfully, Jesus understood the doubt and made a specific effort to relieve it. And that brought Thomas to hope, which is one of the best gifts of all!
Hope is one of the best gifts. Thank you, Leigh!
Powerful, Debbie. Powerful. Thank you. God bless!
Thank you, and God bless you too, Nancy!
I’m glad God is so patient with us when we can’t discern how events could work together for good. How we need faith and patience to wait for His working.
I sure do. Thanks, Barbara.
In the difficult things and the simple things, faith can bring comfort and peace. When I go to God in prayer and release my worries to Him, I am filled with His love and comfort.
It’s amazing how that works! Thanks, Melissa.
Learning to simply give it all to God is a discipline richly enhanced over years of practice, another precious gift of aging.
“Oh what peace we often forfeit
Oh what needless pain we bear
All bcz we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer…”
Amen and amen!
May we all seek Hope, Comfort, Peace, and Joy by faith not by sight. Love this Debbie.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee #14
Yes, may we. Thanks, Paula.
Debbie, the following sentences in your post apply biblical faith beautifully: “We can choose to believe God’s promises and experience comfort and hope. Or like Thomas, before Jesus found him, we can trust our eyes and live in fear and disappointment.” You’ve helped us remember Jesus is more trustworthy than what we see or think. Thank you.
Jeannie, that should be a no-brainer. Yet I can still be distracted by what I see and hear. Thank you.
I am glad hope found Thomas and that it found me too. Great post. Thanks for sharing
Yvonne, I’m glad hope found me too! God bless!
Hope found me too, Debbie, and I’m forever grateful. Thank you for the reminder that we can hope in more than we can ever imagine.
Yes! Thank you, Jesus!
Never really thought about Thomas’ “I knew this was going to happen/I told you so” attitude. And that this kind of pride can make it harder to walk in faith. You’ve got me thinking I have more Thomas in me than I realized.
I guess I’m viewing him through my eyes. I think I would have felt that way. 🙂
Choosing hope sometimes feel so risky. But Jesus is always a risk worth taking!
Lisa, that is a great observation. We don’t want to be let down—again.