There’s one in every crowd. You might have heard them referred to as the:
Party Pooper.
Debbie Downer.
Pessimistic Penny.
Negative Nancy.
I once knew a girl named Vanessa whose friends called her “Depressa”.
No one wants to carry these labels, but it seems that they just can’t help themselves. No matter the situation, they’re bent on negativity. They find the one needle in a haystack of good. They look for the minuscule worst in a sea full of best. In every situation they anticipate what will go wrong instead of noticing all that is going right. They’re the Eeyores of the world – these dear ones who can’t bring themselves to search for that blessed glimmer of hope; the light at the end of the tunnel.
Do you know someone like that?
Jesus did. Among the Twelve it was the disciple named Thomas. You and I – and even the unbelieving world – use the title “Doubting Thomas,” and for good reason. After Jesus rose from the dead the other disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord!” But Thomas didn’t see him, and until he did, he stubbornly stated that he would NEVER believe.
Those are fightin’ words at worst; pessimistic at best.
Now before we’re too hard on Thomas, I want you to see the whole of who he was. Just like modern-day pessimists, there’s always more to a person than first meets the eye. When we search Scripture, we find that it was Thomas who was willing to go with Jesus back into Judea to find a dead Lazarus when the other disciples feared danger and death (John 11). In Thomas’s mind, it would have been better to die with Jesus than to live without Him. And as the cross was drawing near, it was Thomas who didn’t understand where Jesus was going and earnestly questioned how to be with Him (John 14). It appears that he couldn’t stand the thought of being separated from his Lord. Even in Thomas’s pessimism, he had been courageously faithful. Even in his doubt, his loyal love for Jesus was evident. It was likely Thomas’s broken heart over Jesus’s death that fueled his pessimism to plunge into the deepest, despairing doubt.
Whatever his complexity of emotions, we can learn a few things from Thomas:
Distance can breed doubt. “Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.”
For whatever reason, Thomas found himself out of fellowship with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them after His resurrection. It appears that the other ten (minus Thomas and Judas Iscariot) were there. When we distance ourselves from God and other believers, we remove our very best chance for the interjection of truth, hope, and faith into even the darkest of situations. Left to ourselves, we’re much more likely to drift and let the voices of the world speak doubt into our fragile minds and hearts. God’s Word tells us to not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25). Are you down and distancing yourself from God and other believers? It’s not good to be alone. Get back into the fold today, so that you can see and savor Jesus to the fullest.
Disbelief can breed dissension. “But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.'”
It’s difficult to know the tone of Thomas’s voice here, but it doesn’t sound like a positive one. Picture the scene: the other disciples are overjoyed upon seeing their risen Lord. Some of the key pieces of Jesus’s kingdom puzzle are just now coming together and there’s been a breakthrough moment for the others. Together they’ve been through earthly hell and back again, and they’re finally on a mountaintop of faith… when Thomas strongly voices his unbelief. You can just feel the shift of atmosphere at Thomas’s words, and that’s exactly what we do when we douse the fire of other’s proven faith with our firm unbelief. Dissension enters. Distraction ensues. Instead of focusing on forward kingdom thinking and the glory of God, Jesus’s very disciples are left divided and trying to convince one of their own. Is your unbelief causing dissension in the body? Instead, let’s model belief like that of Abraham, who “with respect to the promise of God, did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised,” (Romans 4:20-21).
Delay can breed deterioration. “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.”
Oh, what that week must have been like for Thomas – a miserable week of doubting, grieving, wondering, wishing, and waiting. If you’ve ever delayed walking in belief, you know that even one day of faith-wrestling living can seem like an eternity. Thomas’s delay in believing surely caused him a whole week of strife that, simply stated, could have been avoided if he would have only believed without seeing. James 1:6 says that the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Our minds, bodies, and spirits can deteriorate quickly when we harbor unbelief, even potentially leading us down a path of destruction. Are you in a season where your delayed faith is deteriorating your life, robbing you of living in the fullness of all God has for you? Remember Jesus’s pierced hands and feet; His blood that was shed for you; the empty tomb and sin and death defeated. Jesus’s resurrection power is available to those who believe. Don’t delay another day. Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27).
Thomas doubted.
But oh, sweet Jesus. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus overcame the physical and Thomas’s flesh to bring His peace and presence.
Doubt turned to belief.
He did it for Thomas, and He can do it for you. Saturate your mind in His Truth, run into His presence, and cry out to Him in surrender today. He longs to help you believe.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:29
*Let’s talk: Have you ever experienced doubt that involved distance, dissension, or deterioration? How did God help you overcome these situations?
At His feet,
Week 5 Challenge: On a notecard, write out the verse, “I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24. Place this card where you can see it often as a reminder to surrender your doubts to the Lord this week.
Week 5 Reading Plan:
Week 5 Memory Verse:
Absolutely! I think it’d part of our human nature. We constantly need to be reassured that God is with us and the best way for me is to read His word, pray and listen for Him. But there are times when even with that, I struggle. Someone once told me that when I’m at my most despondent go back to a time that I know without a doubt that God was with me and answered my prayers. I definitely have those throughout my life. So whenever I feel doubt, worry and lack of trust start to creep in, I go back to those times and remember how strongly I believed no matter the circumstance, no matter the outcome, God was with me, hearing and answering my prayers not in my will but His, because His plan is so much greater than mine.
Yes dear Shirley. He has a track record of successes and never failures. He has a track record of always being faithful. So today and daily we rest on the fact thag He always shows up. He is always faithful. God bless you dear.
John the Baptist, Matthew 11:2 John heard in prison about the works of Christ he sent to of his disciples and said to him Are you the coming one or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see. Even John the Baptist doubted. Jesus words where perfect. When doubt shows up I memorize God’s word till doubt is gone. Almost everyday before I leave my bed John 3:16, Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9, 10:13 it must be said or I do not have peace. I also must praise God for all his love and witnessing my 7 yr old Grandson that can say by heart all 5 Roman scriptures. Doubt shows up change the channel not all ways easy but the Holy Spirit is a powerful tool.
Wow!! This was so amazing for me!! Last year, I began to experience extreme doubt; almost to the point of unbelief. It actually caused me to have severe anxiety and a couple panic attacks. Looking back at the severity of it and how it just sprang up out of nowhere, I can say that it was a definite spiritual attack from the enemy. For years, he was trying to get at my marriage and when I began fighting back for that, the doubt and anxiety came. I felt like I was Satan’s target! Anyway, God showed up in a huge way!!! He was constantly speaking to me and reassuring me that He is real and He is with me! It was crazy!! He brought people I to my life that I needed during that time and everything. I realize now that, before I got my anxiety, I felt like I could have a relationship with God and not have to pray or be in my Bible all the time. After my anxiety came on, I began to realize how much I need Him and His word. Sometimes, those thoughts of doubt still pop up, but then I pray and remember how He was faithful and led me through and how h
he continues to answer prayers, today!
Oh sweetness! Our God is faithful. Yes he is!!! He does not leave His children alone. He always provides for them, an all round of provision. Not just material things but also things and people. Dear Lord we thank You for your daughter and how much you have been her help through everything. Please continue to enable her grow in You. Amen. Much love honey.
I can definitely relate to this week’s study. After losing my first and oldest 4 1/2 yr old granddaughter for no viable reason whatsoever …(befuddled doctors claimed an infection got in her heart and took her immediately…tho she was perfectly vibrant & healthy)… I initially blamed God. Having always had what I believed to be the gift of faith, I lost all faith in Him, in His goodness. How could a loving God take a beautiful vibrant child? If He didn’t actually “take” her, why didn’t He step in and intercede as He did with Jairus’ daughter? Did He just stand idly by while she died? Why, Lord? And there lies the question that will not be answered this side of heaven. And I must simply accept that. I don’t have to be ok with it. But I have to accept it and continue forward. I have returned to a place of faith…believing that which my eyes cannot see, which my heart cannot grasp…believing based on what I KNOW to be true of God, not on what I feel – as Shirley stated in a previous comment…based on the history I have of God’s goodness and faithfulness. And isn’t that truly the purest form of Faith? As stated in Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see”. Is my faith stronger than even it was once before? No. I’m not there yet. But I can say once again, “God is good” and He knows and sees beyond our wildest imagination. And my sweet granddaughter rests secure and happy in Heaven. This I never doubted.
My husband also lost his 21 yr. old daughter to murder 6 years prior to us losing our granddaughter. We attended GriefShare and went on to facilitate GriefShare support groups for 4 years. This was very helpful…to pour into other’s lives with God’s truth, even in the midst of wrestling and doubts. To proclaim what we know to be true regardless of what we feel.
Oh dear Julie am so sorry about your losses. I can’t begin to imagine the pain you and your family are in. But God knows and He will see to it you and yours are comforted. Your faith and strength through your post is so encouraging. God bless you darling. And may continue to keep you and yours in Jesus name. Amen.
Bless you Whitney, all of your posts speak to me so strongly, you write with such conviction…it’s truly inspiring! I notice when I become anxious and start doubting that it is in those times when I have become distant with my Father. Even ONE day of missed prayers and devotion causes the negativity of this world to flood back into my life. It is days like today and posts like yours above that slap me back into reality that My God will provide, My Father’s arms are ALWAYS open wide with a shoulder to lean on when I need it. If I will leave my insecurities and worries at his feet he will never leave or forsake me.
Yes darling. You can always be rest assured He will never leave you nor forsake you. It is never in His nature to forget His children. He will be with us till he comes again to take us to be with him. May the peace of the Lord will passes all understanding be with you and always guide your heart in Him. Amen.
Was struggling to recall another adjective I saw applied to Thomas and think it was Honest Thomas! He so desperately dreaded being separated from his Christ Jesus, he might have still been in shock and disbelief stage of grief. And then to miss His return….no, no, no. So he demanded proof that Jesus kept (and keeps) His promises. In nursing that might be called evidence based practice. 😉 I appreciate his honesty and vulnerability and identify with him. I believe Lord, help my unbelief.
Yes dear. Lord help our unbelief. Amen. God bless you darling. May continually be with you and cause you to be all he wants you to be. Amen.