During the Easter Season, I re-read the crucifixion and resurrection story several times in the different gospels. I am glad that God decided to give us four different eye-witness accounts of the life of Jesus, just like we often have multiple biographies of other famous historical figures, because I think it gives us a more complete picture of our Savior. During these readings, I was particularly struck by “Doubting Thomas,” the disciple of Jesus who said he could not believe Jesus was alive again unless he personally examined the wounds on his body made by the nails and the spear (John 21:25). I was surprised to read that after His resurrection there was an occasion where He appeared to the eleven remaining disciples, and the scripture says, “when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). These passages reminded me of the father in the book of Mark who needed healing for his son, but was struggling with his doubts about Jesus’s ability to help him (Mark 9:24). Doubt has always been one of our enemies as Christians.

We know that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6), and yet, just like these Bible characters, most of us at various times and with certain issues struggle with our doubts. What can we do? First of all, just like that father who was seeking help for his son, we can say, “Lord, I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). But mostly, we can just depend upon Jesus. A week after Thomas expressed his doubts, Jesus came to him and convinced him that He was alive again. In fact, tradition says that Thomas was martyred in India in 72 A.D. rather than deny his belief in the resurrected Christ. Quite a change, from Doubter to Martyr! And Jesus also helped that doubting father to believe by healing his son. So let’s keep our focus on Jesus and His Word, and our faith will grow. Faith is the confidence that God’s Word is true and that God is true to His Word. To quote Jesus’s words to Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe!” Lord, help our unbelief, so we can please You with our faith.

In Christ, Matt