Some things seem just too good to be true. But there’s hope, even for doubters.
Thomas was a practical man. He needed to know how things were going to work before he would assent. Is He really risen? Show me the nail scars. How will we get to heaven? Well, someone will need to give directions or scribble down a map. Abstract concepts didn’t seem to be working for him (John 14:5). He needed the concrete facts—that’s just how Thomas thought. Actually, it’s how we all tend to think. Why walk by faith, when you can walk by carefully peer-reviewed sight? (Goodness, Thomas would have loved the fantastic process of academic peer review!) The truth is, most of us are predisposed to doubt just like Thomas.
What then are we to think of Thomas’s faith? We must not make the mistake of thinking Thomas was totally devoid of it. He did believe. Yes, he doubted until the moment He saw Christ appear before him, but Christ Himself still recognized that Thomas believed. Perhaps we could say he was a man of slow, or maybe even weak, faith. Thomas is all of us; while we say, “I do believe,” we must also cry, “help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Thomas’s life is a reminder of the incredible mercy of God. Jesus had spent years walking with His disciples, teaching them, explaining to them what would happen: how He would be arrested, crucified and buried, and how He would rise again. Thomas had heard all of it, again and again. But the death and resurrection of Christ was a wholly new concept, not unlike how we are slow to understand a color that’s left of red or right of indigo on the spectrum. When the fulfillment came, Thomas fled before Jesus’s captors. He had seen Jesus’s terrible death, yet he still could not come to accept that the rest would come true—that ultimately, it would end, not in sorrow, but in resurrection. It was too good to be true.
But, when at last the Savior stood before him, Jesus did not rebuke Thomas. Instead, He reassured him. He gently encouraged the doubter (John 20:27). What tender mercy! What abounding grace! It feels too good to be true.
As with Thomas, our own common sense and practical realism are often a barrier to deep faith. As with Thomas, we also often walk by sight, instead of believing that God will do just as He said. But for us, as for Thomas, there is grace. God is not threatened by your doubts, or undone by your hesitations. He is gentle and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29). In His great patience, He calls us into the rest that He gives. The Lord, the Resurrected One who has conquered sin and death, is yet so gracious that He offers comfort to slow and foolish hearts such as ours.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!” (Romans 11:33). Despite our skepticism, He gently chides us, saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29), and then also offers us ever-increasing evidence of His faithfulness and truth. He offers mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23), that we may daily repent of our doubting hearts, and run to Him again in faith. The answer to all our doubts, as it was for Thomas, is Christ Himself. Fix your eyes upon Him, because the gospel is true, and our God is so very good.
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38 thoughts on "Thomas"
Help my unbelief Lord, help me not doubt but have faith and believe!!
I’m trusting God for a child,often I doubt that He hears my prayers,this message is so refreshing!God is not angry with my doubting heart instead the s is gentle with me reminding me that blessed are they who believe without seeing..
I’m so thankful for God’s mercy when we disbelieve. I’m so thankful that He still answers our prayers, even when we don’t believe in him.
God is really speaking to me in this . ❤️ I’m struggling with being almost 28 and single and I feel him telling me trust him and believe in what cannot be seen.
I struggled so much with this too. Didn’t get married until almost 30. Trust that He will do more than you can ask or imagine!
I was in your boat too. Didn’t meet my husband until a couple days before my 30th birthday. Enjoy the season you are in as much as possible and try to trust that God knows what He is doing. ❤️
I used to live my life in a constant state of worry. Worry/anxiety/stress controlled my life. Only when I finally completed reading the Bible in a year through this app did I start to “Let Go and Let God”. Now I complete every plan. I cannot learn enough about Him. I truly have faith that He is in control and my “plans” are not important.
❤️
This devotion was so timely in that finishing my clinical rotations due to COVID seems hopeless at the current moment. I even texted my friend complaining about the setback and she responded in such a way that pointed me back to God being in control and working everything out for my good according to His will. Boy, did my soul need that reminder! When I can be a Thomas and doubt God’s providence in my life, I need to go to the Lord in prayer. Even when turning to friends is my first choice, He can still speak to me through them. So thankful that God is not threatened by my doubting heart. Lord, I want to fix my eyes to You and You alone. I believe, help my unbelief! You are so good <3
I don’t often post comments but today I really feel moved to! First of all, this is my first read through of a current plan with the community as it’s happening and I have loved reading all the comments and gaining different insights.
I feel particularly moved by today’s reading and devotional as someone who has struggled greatly with faith in my life. I’ve spent years on and off, believing and not believing. I used to let my doubt consume me to a point where I stopped believing. Every time Jesus seems to find me and find some way to show me He is there and gently guide me back. This past few months has been the first time I think I’ve actually really TRULY understood the word and God’s unending love and promise. So I now in times of doubt will bring that doubt to Him, and pray about it instead of going astray.
I believe, and I want to KEEP believing. I’m getting a little emotional as I write this. I really think God has worked through this Bible study to change my heart and ultimately my life. So grateful. ❤️
So thankful you shared how the Lord has been ministering to you through this study! Such a great encouragement to me, thank you.
❤️ thank you for telling your truth. We all need reminders. Isn’t it wonderful when our chiding makes us grateful and happy to be back in His presence?
Oh the struggle between desiring deep, believing faith and my unbelief! It’s just been in recent months/years that I’m learning about the grace of God in this area. He can handle my “I want to believe!!!…..but forgive my unbelief!” I’m so thankful for how tenderly He loves me and understands me, like He understood Thomas.
In my own life I find that the things I absolutely know about God sometimes are clouded by doubt possibly out of skepticism that seems to be all around me. One thing that is something I feel I struggle with is questioning whether God really can answer some prayers when I absolutely know that He does answer prayers according to His will.
I appreciate that Thomas is honest about his doubts and unbelief. I read something that said it’s not wrong to have doubts but doubt doesn’t get to be the final destination. If we bring them to Jesus, he is faithful to take us all the way from unbelief to faith.
Amen ❤️ happy Monday everyone
“Academic peer review”, “our own common sense, “practical realism”, and the concrete over the abstract; these my heart and soul can relate to very much. Having been trained as a speech therapist in the sciences and the process of scientific study, I have wrestled with how to walk in the potential common good of these things while having my heart set fully on walking by faith. Sometimes I wonder if I’m trying to connect darkness with light. In some ways that has to be true as the reality of bias and corruption are in the scientific world because people are in these endeavors, sinful people. Walking through a difficult to understand illness personally, I have experienced the bias and corrupted thinking of medical professionals and institutions. Yet, I keep seeking the Lord’s face to see what good may be there. How might I walk by faith in a greater way? What do I need to fully renounce and walk away from? Yes, I am like Thomas in many ways with my confused questions and doubts. I believe, Lord Jesus; help my unbelief!
Lord, I am often like Thomas and doubt You in what You can do. I do believe but my doubt is in what You can do at times. Please help me with this doubt because with You ALL things are possible.
My prayer is for Jesus to capture the hearts of those who have heard and are yet to believe. I have so many examples in my life (including my own) where people proclaim to know the Lord but are slow to have resurrected faith until they themselves see a miracle Talk about a beautiful love story because He knows exactly when we need that miracle. Growing up in church we really didn’t talk much about Thomas. i am so thankful for this study because it digs deep into those individuals that can get lost in the more known stories of the Bible. Thomas’s story just shows us how God uses everyone for the purpose of His kingdom. No matter who we are, where we live or what has happened in our lives, use your story to save the eternal lives of others. Someone may cross our paths today who needs that extra encouragement of belief. May we open our eyes and hearts to those people and smile at them. (Even if it is through our mask may they will feel the warmth of Christ loving children)
Thank you Rebecca. This was a beautiful post that went straight to my heart.
Angie- this is the second time we’ve commented similarly around the same time. I feel like you state it more eloquently but I wanted to say I enjoy posting my comments and then reading to see you have posted as well. It is encouraging to me that we are on the same wavelength. :)
I think about how Thomas missed out on the first sighting of Jesus in His resurrected body. Upon hearing of the other disciples’ encounter, did he respond from a place of pain- possibly feeling left out, jealous, sad, or disappointed? I bet it was a long week of waiting for Thomas, wondering why Jesus hadn’t appeared to him too. Not knowing if he would get to see Jesus like the others. As is the theme in this study, Jesus graciously met Thomas where he was. Thomas didn’t need to touch Jesus, as soon as he saw Him, his faith was restored. Jesus loved him too!
How often do I focus on what Jesus has not done for me, wavering in my faith at the unfairness of it all? Wondering how long I will have to wait? May I have the endurance to continue to live by faith, knowing He is coming to see me soon. Jesus loves me too!
Both your and Angie’s posts are touching to me today….focusing on what Jesus has not done for me and the unfairness, like you said, is so like me. May Jesus’ grace abound!
 I trust my Jesus! Even when all around me it’s telling me something else. My God is faithful! I put my trust in HIM!
Lots to unfold today, lots to do. It’s very disheartening what people do and say but I put my trust in Jesus. Please pray as my sister in Florida after a week of quarantine at home found out she does have Covid. It took a week to find out the results. Thankfully since she’s been home for a week she is well on her way to recovery. another major prayer request. Please pray for my sweet nephew who had a mental break down this weekend. My heart aches for him. He is a sweet boy. He’s actually a young adult but I remember when he was born.
As a teacher, I realize that students learn at varying speeds and in many different ways. When I read Thomas’s question in John 14:5 I see it as a “help me understand,” question. Jesus was saying he was going to go away and then come back to get them. Then He added, “You know the way to where I am going.” Thomas was paying attention. Thomas was trying to take it all in but, literally speaking, Thomas didn’t know where Jesus was going so, how could he know the way. He asked because Jesus mattered to him. He asked because he had relationship with Jesus, and trusted that it would be okay to ask. In the classroom, usually the ones asking the questions are the ones paying attention. They are hungry to understand and so they are thinking, questioning, and trying. The ones not asking the questions may already understand, or be totally “lost” and need more help than a single answered question can provide.
After Jesus’s resurrection when the group, minus Thomas, saw Jesus…how wonderful that must have been for them! Their world had been ripped apart. They were alive, but living in fear and confusion. Having been with Jesus, they knew He was God’s Son, and yet, everything their human minds thought should happen, didn’t, in fact, just the opposite did. Jesus had told them ahead of time but, they didn’t truly comprehend…until they saw the Lord! I have wondered if Thomas’s statement about touching Jesus’s nail pierced hands and severed side was spoken in anger (because if they had in fact seen Jesus, Thomas had missed out) or in anguish (because he loved Jesus and it tore at his heart that his Lord bore those scars and he couldn’t/didn’t do anything about it), or if in his despair about it all he had almost given up? Whatever the motive of Thomas’s heart, he did see Jesus a week later. In the presence of Jesus, Thomas did not need to touch His wounds, he proclaimed his heart, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus responded with truth, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Thomas had anguished an extra week in unbelief of what he had not seen. Truly, those who believed without seeing were more blessed.
I am thankful for the extravagant grace of God. He is a God of relationship. When Jesus gave His life upon the cross of Calvary the veil was torn. He doesn’t need me, yet He wants me to draw near. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. God’s Word that fills, feeds, and draws near. Worship. We could not over exaggerate the grace and goodness of our God.
Lord, You provide always. When things seem good or struggles surround, You have gone before and remain with. You give the tools for faith. I pray for belief without seeing…I also thank you for allowing heart questions. Thank you for small group reteaching and individual instruction, patiently, lovingly, complete. Specifically Lord help me to learn, grow, please, and honor You, and thank you for your full love in the process, right where I am. Amen.
Going through the women and men of the New Testament has been so great. Everyday I feel like I go “That’s me!” and today after reading the first sentence of this devotional, I thought “I feel called out.” This year and season of my life has been difficult and seems to continue to be that way. And even though I know God is going to take care of me like He promises he will and always has, my logical brain is going, “When and how is this going to work?” But today’s devotion reminded me that God is still there with lots of mercy and understanding going “It’s okay”
Hebrews 11 (full chapter) in THE MESSAGE is very encouraging to me this morning. I find myself doubting as much as trusting in these precarious days. I need these reminders to walk in faith and not by sight – not by what I read and see in the news, but by what Jesus Himself has proclaimed and proven. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace and patience with me in my doubting times!
We have the history of Christianity, hopefully the faith taught by parents and grandparents and Sunday School teachers, the Bible, the Bible scholars, Ministers, friends, and so on to encourage growth in our walk with Jesus. Yesterday our minister pointed out in her sermon that we should ponder on the men that walked off their boats and jobs and life to follow Jesus blindly. What Faith! They were there in the beginning and yet followed. Doubts crept in, like Thomas, and they still do. We know in our hearts and minds that Christ is the Great I Am but Satan can worm the fleeting doubt “how can this be” in our worldly heads. It.Is.Okay! God is not looking down and condemning you for that. Remember there is “free will”. Our job, our faith as Christians, is to say “not today, not me satan” when doubts worm their way in. In this world currently there is so much that takes our eyes off Jesus. What can we do? We can have a “go to” scripture or scriptures that we can fall on. We can utilize breath prayer to get us through. We can rely on our brothers and sisters in Christ to get us over a hump. We can read, study and pray. We can also examine our life and those around us to discern any chinks in our armor. Be blessed today and feel God’s love for you.
Sometimes, many times, my logical, practical self gets in the way. The last few days I have found myself being discouraged because of this place that we find ourselves in. This message was just for me, and I thank You, Lord.
As I was sitting on the porch reading this, a hummingbird came and hovered 2 feet in front of my face, as tho she was chastising me. I said to her, “your feeders are full… go and eat!” Then God gave me this thought: “yes, Cindy, the feeder is full… come and eat.” I want to cry. I am thankful.
Pray that God gives us “patient endurance” during this time and that we remember even in our questions like Thomas, Jesus will still show up and remind us time and time again who he is and his love for us. He’s just that faithful and that kind.
I think we all have times when we are more like Thomas in our faith walk than we’d like to be. I find great comfort in the abounding grace and tender mercy JESUS shows Thomas with the simple statement, “Peace be with you.” That’s what HE wants for us…for me. I pray that today, I will lean into the peace JESUS promises me when I believe and put my trust in HIM.
Happy Monday Sisters!
How many times haveI been a Thomas, having to ask God to show me who He is? And He does in so many amazing ways. Right now with all that is going on in this crazy world, my faith in Jesus is the calm, the still waters, the restoration of this soul that keeps me anchored in truth and love instead of fear and chaos. He is holding us, and He will not let us go. Thank you Lord God for all you are and all you are doing may your Holy Spirit be visible in us and may your words of hope and love pour out in faith from us in the name of Jesus.
Well said Churchmouse. I think I forget daily that God is God! He’s in control. He spoke it all into existence and He is faithful from generation to generation.
Praying for my own faith to strengthen, and especially praying for loved ones and friends with faith in things other than Jesus.
It seems to me that Thomas simply forgot that Jesus is God. Thomas was lacking belief in Jesus for Who He really was. It’s not like Jesus didn’t tell him, and the other disciples, to believe in Him. He did. Repeatedly. Perhaps it’s just easier to believe when five thousand are fed from a child’s bag lunch than it is when the miracle worker dies an excruciating death on a Roman cross. Faith is shaken when the applause of the crowd fades. Thomas forgot what he later boldly proclaimed: Jesus is Lord and God. Nothing is impossible with Him. He delivers on every promise. He said He would die and rise again and so He did. Thomas’ faith was shaken but then he stabilized. It took a personal encounter with the risen Jesus. Whereas Thomas wavered, Jesus’ love for him never did. Jesus tells Thomas to reach out and touch, receive renewed faith. Thomas did and so can we. Let us daily seek an encounter with Jesus. Let us receive His touch. Let us walk in fresh faith. Let us proclaim “my Lord and my God!”
Beautiful
There is a teaching called, Thomas meets Jesus by Tim Keller! Hope you can listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timothy-keller-sermons-podcast-by-gospel-in-life/id352660924?i=1000472623336
I listened to it yesterday and it spoke to loudly to me! Loved it. Thanks for sharing!