Blessed are those who have not seen

Unless I see … I will not believe.

There are many ways we say, ‘I can’t believe it’. Sometimes it’s a way of expressing joyful exuberance over an unexpected blessing. Often, it is a way of conveying hesitation to accept an astonishing statement made by another person or to acknowledge that we witnessed something amazing happen. But Friend, have you ever been so hurt and upset, that when someone told you that the opposite of what you thought was actually true, you responded by saying, ‘I can’t believe that’?

Think about how Thomas must have felt days after that cruel and horrible Friday when Jesus was arrested and crucified. His world was turned upside-down, and all his hope was gone. He must have been off somewhere apart from the other apostles, because when the risen Jesus made a surprise visit, Thomas was not with them. And later when he did make his way back to their meeting place, he was lonely and dejected. The other apostles were ecstatic as they tried to share the incredible news of Jesus’ resurrection, but their words were like vinegar on an open wound, and it just made him angry. His reaction has labeled him as ‘Doubting Thomas’ for two millennia, but maybe you’ve felt the same way.

It’s easy to justify unbelief with our pain and sorrow, but we should never deny the truth. Then Jesus appeared to them again with Thomas as the primary focus of His visit. “Peace to you,” He said and instructed Thomas to appease his anger and fears with his physical senses. “Do not be unbelieving,” Jesus reassured him, “but believing.” At that moment Thomas found that nothing his senses would ever tell him about the tangible was as undeniably real as what faith had revealed inside of him. Friend, maybe you’d like undeniable proof to stand before you to relieve all your anguish and doubt.  But, Jesus said to Thomas, “because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The greatest lesson to learn is that faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations.

Read: John 20:24-29

Listen: Be Thou My Vision