The Mistake of Distancing

[Jesus] said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side.”
–John 20:27

The foundational doubt we have to wrestle with is whether Jesus really is who He said He is.

This was the doubt Thomas faced after Jesus’ death, when the disciples’ dreams were dashed. They went into hiding, fearing that they, too, would be arrested and crucified. Then on Sunday evening, Jesus miraculously appeared in front of them in His resurrected body. But John noted, “Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came” (John 20:24). When the other disciples told Thomas about Jesus’ appearance, Thomas said, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (v. 25).

Here’s an important principle about doubt: Distance from others is dangerous for doubters. Thomas made a mistake by separating from the other believers. Unbelief is like a mushroom–it grows best in the darkness. When you have times of doubt, Satan will do everything he can to separate you from other Christians. He’ll say, “You need to work things out on your own before you go back to church.” No, there is strength in numbers. Don’t make the mistake of distancing yourself from others when you doubt.

Eight days after Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples, He appeared again in their midst, and this time Thomas was with them. Turning to Thomas, Jesus said, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing” (v. 27). Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28).

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus knew exactly what Thomas had said to the other disciples? This leads to another principle: Dependable evidence is distributed to doubters. Jesus didn’t scorn Thomas because he wanted evidence; instead, Jesus gave Thomas what he was looking for. That’s how God deals with people who are looking for reasons to believe. When God sees a heart that wants to know Him, He’ll provide the evidence that person needs to believe. If you’re sincerely seeking answers, God will do the same for you.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Moving from Doubt to Faith,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.