Scripture
“Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' ” (John 20:29)
Observation
I’ll admit, I’m like Thomas in this situation. You need to show me the nail marks and pierced side for me to truly believe. Not that Thomas and I don’t believe what the Bible says, it’s that we’re leery of taking man’s word for it. I’m sure Thomas wanted what the other disciples were saying to be true, but he just couldn’t completely wrap his mind around the fact that what Jesus said He would do was actually being done. He had risen!
Like Thomas, I too often desire hard proof and solid evidence. I look to the analytics rather than the real time action taking place in front of me. I don’t completely write off anyone’s testimony of faith, but I do tend to be more skeptic then supporter. I have faith, but I like facts before fully committing to belief.
Application
And then Jesus breaks it all down for Thomas and myself, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.” I desire to be one of the blessed, not for my sake but for the sake of the call. To believe without seeing. To know that the word of God comes to fruit even though all I see at the moment is a barren soil. I hold the word of God as true, but my flesh longs for a an obvious sign or supernatural revelation to uphold my faith.
But we are called to live by faith and not by sight. To live by faith and not by signs. When my faith is fully in the Faithful One then I don’t need signs and I don’t need to see. I need to build my faith to a point where if God says it, then done deal. No questions, no need for proof, no need to see the probabilities.
To build my faith to go from doubting to determined I need to:
- Root everything in the word of God. If the Bible says it then that’s all I need to know. I don’t need proof and I don’t need to see the plan. I place my full faith and undying devotion in God and His word.
- Remember His faithfulness. Specifically the times when my feeble mind felt there was no hope. When I remember His faithfulness in my life, then I have all the proof I need. When I remember His faithfulness, I build my faith by trusting in the patterns of God and His plan for my future and hope.
- Don’t stop believing! It’s easy to get swayed into the fray of fact-checking and analytics instead of the comfort and security of God’s promises. I need to continue to cling to the consistent and true, never wavering in my faith and belief in Him.
Prayer
Jesus, help my unbelief! Thank you for Your word which I can always count, Your faithfulness which spans the seasons, and your promises which ring true time and time again.
