Daily Strength - When Doubting

²⁶ 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!” ²⁷ 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.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20 vs 26-28 NIV)

The first followers of Jesus, the disciples, were all different from each other, different in personality and different in temperament. Their circumstances and experiences were also different from each other. When the risen Lord Jesus first appeared to His disciples, one of them, Thomas, wasn’t there. Put all these things into the mix and confronted with the news that Jesus had risen Thomas doubted. Personality, experience, circumstances all collided at this moment in the life of this individual making it hard for Him to believe.

Jesus’ patience with Thomas embraces us when we find that we doubt. There are times in life when believing is hard. It is no surprise that later in the New Testament Christians are told specifically to ‘be merciful to those who doubt.’ (Jude 1:22) 

There is room for doubt in the Christian life. However when we doubt, and we all do, Jesus reaches out wanting to breath confidence and life into shaky faith. Today he invites us to place our hand in His hand, and there to know and feel that we are loved and called and kept.

Prayer: Lord there are times I find it hard to believe. Help me in my unbelief. In Jesus’ Name. Amen