As this year’s Easter holiday draws near my thoughts keep turning to the story of Doubting Thomas. Thomas, the infamous disciple who couldn’t believe that Christ had risen from the dead until he touched the scars in his savior’s hands, leads me to consider my own struggle with fear and doubt.
A few weeks ago, one of the pastors at my church said something I’ve never heard before. He said that fear is counterfeit vision. Similarly, I think that doubt is counterfeit faith.
Sometimes, it’s so easy to believe in what we see. But Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is about believing in what we can’t see.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
While I’m sure Thomas’ heart wanted to believe so badly that Christ was indeed alive, he placed his faith in the death he witnessed just three days ago, in logic, in the laws of nature, in everything that seemed to be true.
Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Thomas, and his encounter with Jesus, reminds us that our faith is in a risen Savior. Though our lives may not always make sense, though we may not always be able to see, our hearts need not be troubled. Christ is the source of our faith; Christ is our reason for hope.
When fear strikes at our hearts, when we’re tempted to put our faith in what seems to be true, the best thing we can do is look and see God. By giving our doubts and our fears to Him we can find assurance in God and His promises. Just like Doubting Thomas, we can look to our Savior and place our faith in the palm of His hands.
No matter what appears to be true in your life today, no matter what you see that may be scary, discouraging, or cause for doubt, don’t be overcome by counterfeit faith.
Remember Doubting Thomas. Remember the hands. Remember the scars.
Remember the Savior who died on the cross, the Savior who rose from the dead so that we can be sure of what we hope for. So we can be certain of what we do not see.
~An Excerpt from the Archives
I’d like to send a special wish of congratulations to Jessie H. for winning the Loving and Listing Giveaway!!! I am planning more giveaways to come soon so stay posted.
Happy Easter! I hope your day is both beautiful and blessed.
Woooo Hoooo I won!!
Gordon’s sermon this Sunday was all about Thomas. I’ve decided he might be my favorite disciple b/c I too doubt, and he wasn’t afraid to ask the questions the rest of the disciples were thinking (“Lord we don’t know where your going how can we know the way?”) and he was willing to die for Jesus something even Peter wasn’t (“Let us go with him to Jerusalem so we can die with him”). I like that there is an example of doubt in scripture b/c we’ve all been there.
Congrats, Jessie! Thanks for sharing these thoughts.