Stop Doubting and Start Believing!

“Stop doubting and believe.” This is what Jesus told Thomas in John 20:27 as He gave him an opportunity to verify the authenticity of His resurrection. After putting his finger in the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and placing his hand into His side, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). It was to this response that Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29).

A week earlier, Thomas had doubtfully said, “I will not believe [without proof]” (John 20:25), and in fact, in the Greek text, there is a double negative. In other words, he said, “I positively will not believe.” (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, 2007, p. 314).  Even though he had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, he expressed doubt and unbelief about the resurrection of Jesus by his words. To Thomas, “seeing is believing,” and so he sought for proof. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s Commentary distinguishes between Thomas’ doubt and unbelief:

1.       In his doubt, Thomas was saying, “I cannot believe! There are too many problems!”

2.       In his unbelief, however, he was saying, “I will not believe unless you give me the evidence I ask for!” (p. 315)

Even though, He was not present when Thomas expressed his doubt and unbelief, Jesus as the God-man heard him. A week later, Jesus provided Thomas with the necessary proof he needed and hence his doubts and unbelief vanished. Jesus’ interest in and concern for Thomas in spite of his shortcomings lift our spirits:

“It is an encouragement to us to know that the Lord has a personal interest in and concern for ‘Doubting Thomas.’ He wanted to strengthen his faith and include him in the blessings that lay in store for His followers. Thomas reminds us that unbelief robs us of blessings and opportunities.” (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 315).

If we apply Jesus’ words to Thomas, we will move from unbelief to confidence in our walk with the Lord.  We will also grow in our faith in the Lord and we will not succumb to doubt and unbelief. The apostle James stressed why it is so important to believe and not doubt: “because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7, NIV). Another word for “believe,” is “trust,” and Proverbs 3:5-6 echoes it:

^“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and He will make your paths straight.” (NIV)

There are many circumstances we face these days and we are tempted to doubt the Lord’s plan or His presence in our lives. We must trust in the Lord and heed what He told Thomas, i.e. “stop doubting and believe.”