A MOMENT OF UNBELIEF
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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.” 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!” 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.”
John 20:24-26 (NIV)
I don’t know if anybody’s mistake has ever been more branded than Doubting Thomas. He has one bad moment, and now he’s got a name that he can’t seem to escape. I think Thomas is often unfairly criticized and used as a negative example. The truth is, Thomas didn’t stay in his doubt. He went on later to be bold for Jesus and was martyred for his faith. Plus, the unsavory secret is I relate a lot to Thomas. There’s a part of me that believes anything is possible, but another part of me believes most things are impossible. We don’t silence doubt by suppressing it. We silence doubt by speaking to God about it. Listen to what Tim Keller says about doubt: A faith without some doubts is like a human body without antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.
Faith, like any relationship, has to be stretched and tried. Nobody gets a divorce on their honeymoon, and no one quits following Jesus on the mountaintops. It’s in the difficult times when faith is forged. There are doubts that destroy and doubts that deliver. God isn’t afraid of your doubts. You don’t honor Him but pretending they don’t exist; you show He’s Lord by taking those doubts to Him. I only take something I want fixed to someone who can fix it. I wouldn’t take my broken car to my 4-year-old daughters and ask them to repair it, but I would take it to a mechanic. Taking your doubt shows that you believe God can change that doubt into something good. He’s good. Take whatever you’re carrying to Him!
APPLICATION: Take your hard questions and doubts to God. He isn’t afraid.
PRAYER: Ask the Holy Spirit to create a deeper level of honesty and vulnerability with God. God doesn’t want us to pretend everything is great. Ask Him to continue to grow your faith despite the problems you see around you!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?