I doubt it...

I’m thinking this morning of Thomas. Not just any Thomas; as I know many of them. 

The Thomas I’m thinking of, if I was to give you his “nickname”, or the name we typically put before his name, you’d know exactly who it was I am talking about. 

Doubting Thomas. 

His Story comes from the Gospel of John. Jesus had Risen from the dead, and He had appeared to Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and even the other disciples…. all of them, except Thomas. 

When the other disciples tell Thomas that they have seen the Risen Christ, Thomas lives up to his monicker, doubting. He doesn't believe they had seen Jesus in the flesh. 

 He is quoted as saying: “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.”(NLT)

Now, I want to pause here and say something… We think that doubting is a bad thing. We think that doubting God is an even worser (yes, it’s a word) Thing. We think that because we doubt God, we’re terrible, rotten people. 

Well, we’re not. 

I’ve been on this journey with Jesus for a long time, and there have been times when I have been left scratching my head, thinking to myself, about God, out-loud: “What, wait?”

There is nothing wrong with doubting the God of the universe. He’s a Big God. He can take it. He can take all the questions that we will ask, and at the end of the day, He will still come out as being God. I promise you that. God is big enough to handle your doubts. 

Just look at the story of Thomas: 26 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. 

27 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!”

Notice, that when Jesus showed up again in the room His disciples had been in, He didn't lambaste Thomas for doubting His resurrection. He didn't yell at Him for not believing that Jesus had in fact risen from the dead. 

He just showed up and told Thomas invited Thomas to scratch and sniff. Literally. Touch Jesus. To Put his hands on the nail marks. To look at Jesus’ side. 

Jesus didn't talk bad about Thomas, or even to Thomas for his unbelief; He just showed up. 

I pray the same for you. I pray the same for me. 

When we have one of those days, and, lets face it, we all do. When we have one of those “God, are you sure you're really there?” “God, are you sure you know what you're asking to do?” 

In those times, when we are doubting if God is even in control, I pray that He would show up in our midst, and say “I AM here with you. Trust me. (see Psalm 62)

By the way, after Thomas touched Jesus and saw Him up-close and personal, He said: “28 “My Lord and my God!”” (NLT)

This has been my reaction as well, when I endure a season of doubt. Normally, I simply have to ask God to show up and remind me that He is with me, and when He does, I am left speechless and say, as Thomas did, My Lord and my God.”

It’s ok to doubt, God can take it. But when you find out that God has the answer to your doubt, more specifically, when you find out that God IS the answer to your doubt, may you be comforted by Him being both Lord and God.