Have you heard the phrase ‘doubting Thomas’ before? It’s derived from this incredible story in the Bible after the resurrection of Jesus. Thomas, a disciple, had not yet seen Jesus after he rose from the tomb. The disciples explained to him that Jesus had risen and they had seen him with their own eyes, and Thomas’s response was:
“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.”
Eight days later, Thomas would get a chance to do just that. Jesus appeared before the disciples and 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.”
…and…
“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
I wonder what Thomas was feeling in that moment. Shame? Guilt? The Savior was standing right in front of him, and even provided Thomas with the irrefutable evidence he asked for.
Thomas had a blind spot. His mind wouldn’t allow himself to believe that a man he witnessed being put to death had actually risen from the grave. Despite traveling with Jesus and witnessing the countless miracles and wonders He did, Thomas still doubted Jesus and wanted hard evidence before he would decide to believe it.
We don’t want to be Thomas, and yet we all have those moments. We don’t want logic to diminish our imagination. We don’t want to miss out on a chance to meet Jesus because our need for evidence comes first. We want our minds to believe it first; imagine it first.
Say this prayer today:
Father, you know my thoughts and desires; my cares and burdens. Father, remove the thoughts that block me from imagining Your goodness and embracing Your thinking. Help align my thoughts with Yours, and help me allow myself to imagine the impossible so that I can witness more of You. Amen.
Do you relate to Thomas in this story? If so, explain.
Author: Sara Fullerton
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