Thomas: A Heart of Faith

Poor Thomas.  The man spent three years walking the earth with Jesus and he is most remembered for a moment of doubt. In John 20:1-24, Jesus comes back to life and appears to Mary Magdalene, then a group of disciples that did not include Thomas. In verse 25 the disciples relay what they’ve seen to their absent brother. Thomas famously replies that he won’t believe unless he sees it for himself, forever earning him the nickname, Doubting Thomas.

“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

A Challenger

I never fully understood the character of Thomas until God gave me my own little challenger  to raise.

Grayson is a bundle of insatiable energy who earned his nickname, Tenacious G, as an infant because of his fiercely persistent spirit. There are many moments in our day that I catch myself saying things like, “Because I said so” and “Can you please just trust me?”. It’s not quite accurate to say he doubts me. He is simply a challenger. His emotions and reactions go from zero to sixty at the snap of a finger. He likes to see it, to get confirmation. He’s all about proof. It’s how he processes.

I don’t know exactly how this quality will play out in my son’s faith. He’s only seven – he has a long journey ahead of him to figure it out. But I do know this challenger spirit is part of a deeply tender heart, the kind that hears of someone’s pain and wants to move mountains to make it better. Like Thomas in John 11 responding to the news that their friend Lazarus is dead.

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  John 11:14-16

Thomas is an all or nothing kind of guy too. His disbelief is a full throttled refusal. I will not believe. There is no compromise. But this is equally true of the change of heart he experiences eight days later, when Jesus appears again and shows Thomas his wounds. Jesus invites Thomas to see the truth for himself. Thomas believes saying, “My Lord my God” (v. 28) boldly declaring the deity of Christ.

Not an Easy Road

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  “Blessed” here is the same Greek word used in the Beatitudes, also translated as “happy” and “happier”.  I think Grayson’s life would be a lot easier, happier, if he could just accept the things he is told. If only he could take it at face value. But like Thomas, the faith that may be forged in his times of doubts can be transformed into a powerful rock of certainty, a firm foundation.

Therefore the Lord GOD said:

“Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

the one who believes will be unshakable.

Isaiah 28:16, CSB

Thanks to Thomas’ story I have a better idea of how to guide and pray for my son’s growing faith.