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."
When we disbelieve something, it is difficult to change one’s mind. You must be shown to be wrong. Many beliefs hinge not so much on the facts as on pride. It is difficult to admit personally changing your beliefs. Yet, there is no one who can accept Christ without first coming to the very point of humility saying, “I was wrong”. I have sinned”. “I need help. “
Sin keeps people in their doubts even when confronted because it is as one who says, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.”
Another problem with confronting doubts is the tendency to believe what we first were taught. Some study says when we hear a lie, it takes up to five times to hear the truth before we actually change our minds.
Jesus is confronting Thomas with His personal appearance. Before that, Thomas had heard many testimonies of the resurrection by those who were his friends. When people respond to Christ because of others it is never as strong a faith as when someone has a personal meeting with Jesus. While ideas and personal testimonies can be steppingstones to bring people to meet the Lord, if that is all we base our faith on, then doubts arise more quickly. Our rebellion may keep us from wanting to heed the Holy Spirit’s conviction on our hearts, but when we can reason and think right, we control our faith.
Likewise doubts come from our emotions more than reason. Emotional doubt is just a feeling we have. Someone might doubt because of hypocrisy in the church. This has nothing to do with the claims of Jesus. Such a person needs to think through the real issues and not judge Jesus by those who claim to believe in Him.
I find doubts of emotion to come into play with the loss of a loved one. It is grief that keeps some people from trusting in Jesus because they are hurt when a loved one leaves them. Life didn’t happen the way they wanted it to happen. They don’t like death and so blame God. It is especially hard to lose a child in death by illness or worse by violence.
When some doubt it might be helpful to evaluate what else is going on in their life that is keeping them from the real issues about Jesus. Looking at the facts doesn’t always change the emotions. “Lord, change me” is one of the hardest prayers to pray when facing our doubts as well as our lives when we know we are not in the will of the Lord.
Application: Like Thomas, take all your doubts to the Lord. Jesus will meet you there as He did Thomas with no judgment.
Prayer: Oh my God, I do doubt many times. Strengthen my faith through your Word as I bring my doubts to you. From Your Word I can know that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. You are my Creator, Redeemer and friend. You sing over me.
******************************************
If you wish to get the fuller version of this daily devotion, send a request via email to pastordale@outlook.com
