John 20:24-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWhen doubt demands proof<\/h3>\n
Thomas was not there. We were not told why this was so. But in his absence, he missed the peace that the risen Jesus gave to his disciples with his appearance. When others told him, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas refused to believe without solid evidence. \u201cUntil I see\u2026 until I touch\u2026 I won\u2019t believe.\u201d<\/p>\n
We often judge Thomas harshly. Yet their demand is deeply human. Disappointment makes us alert. Grief makes us alert. We hesitate to trust again. Thomas wasn’t asking for some mystical experience; He wanted reality.<\/p>\n
But notice this: Even in his doubt, Thomas remained among the disciples. He did not leave the Fellowship altogether. And that matters.<\/p>\n
There will be seasons when you struggle. You may struggle with pain, seemingly unanswered prayers, or intellectual questions. Jesus is not shocked by doubt. He knows the wounds that cause it.<\/p>\n
Yet the answer to doubt is not isolation. When doubt or sadness casts a long shadow over your soul, the worst thing you can do is walk away alone with your sad thoughts.<\/p>\n
The best thing you can do is go where people who believe in Jesus gather around the promises of God and encourage each other with those promises. Go and be where Jesus meets us \u2013 \u201cWhere two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them\u201d (Matthew 18:20). Go and be where His sweet \u201cPeace be with you\u201d is spoken, where praying with and for others and singing praises to God in many voices can lift you up and out of yourself. The answer to doubt is not isolation.<\/p>\n
Thomas again stayed close enough to hear.<\/p>\n
And Jesus did not rebuke him from a distance. He came closer. He lives not to embarrass the doubters, but to give them proof and peace. The risen Jesus is patient with you too. Even if your grip is weak, his grip remains strong.<\/p>\n
\nPrayer:<\/h4>\n
Lord, when I struggle with doubt, keep me close to Your Word and Your People. Strengthen my faith with the certainty of your resurrection. Amen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Daily devotionals brought to you by WELS.<\/em><\/p>\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivative Works 3.0 United States License.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nAll scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible, New International Version\u00ae, NIV\u00ae. Copyright \u00a91973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.\u2122 Used with permission from Zondervan. All rights reserved world wide.<\/em><\/p>\n