Thomas Brings Hope!

Have you ever doubted that something would happen? Did it finally happen? Have you ever doubted that someone would perform as desired? Have you ever doubted a promise? I have. Let me share with you what I’ve learned about doubting and hope.

One of the first thing that comes to mind when I think of doubting is Doubting Thomas. Like me my guess is we all know something about Thomas. But most of all I remember that he doubted what the other disciples saw and would not believe. In fact, he said, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25 (ESV) Because of that statement we now use the expression that when someone does not believe a story, they are called a doubting Thomas.

I find though that Jesus understood what Thomas was going through. He understood Thomas’ doubts. He did not chastise Thomas for his doubts he gave Thomas proof, John 20:27 tells us about what Jesus did. “Then he (Jesus)said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’” (ESV)the story goes on and Thomas responds in John 20:28, “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!”’ (ESV) Thomas immediately understood that he had doubted when he should not have doubted in part, I believe because of Jesus giving him the proof he needed. I noticed that Thomas no longer needed to place his fingers into Jesus’ wounds. He saw Jesus and he knew.

Now I believe that Jesus’ response to Thomas’ confession was not for Thomas’ sake. I believe it was for our sake. “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29 (ESV) I believe that Jesus understood that His followers in the future will never see the wounds on His body in their earthly lifetime, so they needed to know that they had to believe without seeing. I believe there is no better way to show that than with the story of “doubting” Thomas. This is why I find hope from Thomas. Because I know that Jesus will provide me what I need to have the strength to hold firm in my belief in Him. In this case it is not seeing is believing that is important but rather believing without seeing.

I believe Thomas was just a person like me. He had no special abilities, and he had doubts just like me but he came around to believing in God’s Son Jesus, and this helped him to respond in faith and have hope for eternity just like me. That was his hope, and it is also my hope. If you do not have this kind of hope, then you can get it. It is easy all you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

I pray you that you like Thomas will believe in Jesus in the end and get hope in the only source of true hope. That you will trust the promises of God and realize the same hope that Thomas received from Jesus. It is through a relationship with God through Jesus that solves the problem of sin and brings us hope in the present and the future. I would also encourage you to seek Jesus for He is the only opportunity there is to have eternal life. This is to me the greatest source of hope. In doing so, I believe we will have hope and joy in our everyday lives. Understanding how Jesus Christ grants us access to eternal life, allows us to live in hope. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV) At the same time understanding you will live eternally knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ will also bring you the greatest hope. Because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for sins. His payment satisfies all my sins from the past, the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because holiness shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.

If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here.

You can watch book trailer about my book.

You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.