Is there a doubting Thomas in all of us?

Post-Easter Sunday is time we look at the post-resurrection Jesus.  A reading we sometimes get to hear in church is one on doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29).  We often give Thomas a bad rap as the doubter because of what he said: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Is there a “doubting Thomas” in all of us?  Many people in the world today are not much different from Thomas. The doubtfulness in Thomas represents what’s in most people in my generation. We are a generation that values being authentic.  To be an authentic believer, we need some proof and not just talk.  But even if you’re not a big doubter, there might be a small degree of doubt that exists in you. It’s natural for us to have some doubt about something.

But God already knows that many of us need an experience with God. This is why God comes down to us and pours out his love and gives us faith to believe the impossible. Without faith given to us from God, none of us would have any hope. If left to myself as a human being, I would probably have no faith at all…especially those of us who grew up in this post-modern age who are critical of everything. We question everything.

Yes, I’m a Thomas and I’m thankful that God loves his “Thomases” too.  God’s Spirit wants to work in the lives of people who need assurance of what we are taught to believe.  Although Jesus said in v. 29, blessed are those who have not seen but still believe, what this is, is faith… not blind-belief.  It’s God who gives us faith as we read God’s word, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with himself because in his presence is fullness of joy.