Overcoming Unbelief

I do believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:24, NASB

“YOU MISSED IT!”

“It was amazing!”

“You would have loved every moment of it!”

Have you ever missed out on an event that others experienced and thought was life-changing? A concert, party, mission trip, natural event, or gathering? As the hype continues, you grow envious, wishing you had experienced their same joy and exhilaration. I bet Jesus’ disciple Thomas felt like this.

Who knows what Thomas was doing the day Jesus suddenly appeared to the disciples as they gathered behind locked doors (John 20). Whatever it was, I’m sure it felt trivial compared to what the disciples saw and experienced. After all, the resurrected Jesus had come and offered peace to their trembling hearts and unsteady faith. He showed them His hands and feet. They saw how His scars replaced the nails and how faith in Him could now replace their fear.

But Thomas missed it.

Not only that, at their next gathering, Thomas doubted the disciples’ experience: “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 never believe” (John 20:25). Ever since, Thomas has gotten a bad rap. We straight-up call him “Doubting Thomas” and only recall how he needed proof.

But prior verses in John 20 tell us that the other disciples got to experience Jesus appearing before them and revealing His scars to them. What Thomas is demanding is not absurd. He is simply asking to have the same experience.

And Jesus does it. He gives Thomas the same proof He gave the other disciples—perhaps on a more personal level. Jesus specifically addresses Thomas face-to-face, placing his hands upon His scars. After all, grace looks like Jesus coming back for just one. It looks like Jesus showing up even when we think He won’t. It looks like Jesus meeting Thomas’s and our own distinct needs.

Thomas is not alone. We see in other parts of the Bible how people request help for their unbelief. They believe in Jesus and His power but doubt that Jesus has come specifically for them, that Jesus has a heart for their specific needs. Sister, we can ask our God for help in overcoming our unbelief, and His grace will show up. He will fill in the gap between what we do believe and what we still have doubts over. Revealing Himself to us and increasing our faith are what He loves to do.

GRACE REFLECTION: Think about what is hard for you to believe about the character of God. Is it hard to believe His grace? His love? His sacrifice? His judgment? Take soul stock for a moment, and quietly ask God to increase your faith.