In the Bible, there is a story about a man named Thomas who had trouble believing that Jesus Christ was resurrected. He doubted the other disciples when they told him what happened. This story is a great example of how faith and trust can be difficult to maintain at times. Despite his doubts, “Doubting” Thomas eventually came to believe in Jesus and was able to experience His resurrection firsthand.
Why is a blog article about Doubting Thomas on a Witchy blog? Because hearing from many different traditions is important! So read this narrative with an open mind, and see what insights you discover.
The story of Doubting Thomas from the Bible
One of the most famous stories from the Bible is that of Doubting Thomas. Thomas was one of the Twelve Apostles, and he was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection. When Apostle Thomas heard about this, he said that he would not believe it unless he saw Jesus himself and could put his fingers in the holes in Jesus' hands.
Eight days later, Jesus appeared to the disciples again, and this time “Doubting” Thomas was with them. When Jesus told him to touch his wounds, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Afterward, Jesus said to him, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This story teaches us that we should have faith even when we can't see something for ourselves.
This story also teaches us that it's okay to doubt. While we may remember “Doubting” Thomas, we also know he was Apostle Thomas. In the Catholic church, he is Saint Thomas. He had deep doubts, but now Thomas is an important figure of our collective faith.
What it means to have faith and trust in God
To have faith in God is to believe in Him even though we cannot see Him. It is to trust that He is real and that He loves us and has a plan for our lives. Having faith requires us to step out in obedience, even when we don't understand why He is asking us to do something.
It means trusting that He knows what is best for us, even when the circumstances we are facing are difficult. It is believing that He will never leave us or forsake us, no matter what we are going through. To have faith in God is to rely on Him completely, knowing that He is always good and always faithful.
The Thomas bible story encompasses many of these statements and beliefs. While other disciples believes because they could see, Doubting Thomas missed the boat. But the disciples told Thomas, and Thomas answered that he would need to see Jesus' resurrection himself before he believed. The Thomas bible story allows us to doubt – as long as we still hold some semblance of faith in the risen lord and holy spirit.
How doubt can sometimes lead to greater understanding and faith
Doubt can often lead us to greater understanding and faith. When we doubt something, we are forced to question it and look at it more closely. This can lead us to a deeper understanding of the thing we are doubting. In some cases, it can also lead us to have more faith in it.
For example, if we Doubt our ability to do something, we may be more likely to push ourselves and achieve it. Or if we doubt our beliefs, we may examine them more deeply and come to a greater understanding of why we believe them. Doubt can therefore be a useful tool in our quest for knowledge and faith.
Thomas answered the call to faith, but other disciples struggled with faith consistently throughout the Bible. One of the arguments for believing in the truth of the Bible is that the disciples told unfavorable stories about themselves. They didn't just bad mouth other disciples – they shared their own struggles, too. They were sound and sincere believers, and you can be, too.
Examples of people who have shown great faith in difficult times
Throughout history, there have been many examples of people who have shown great faith in the face of adversity. In the Bible, Abraham is considered a model of faith for his willingness to leave everything he knew behind and follow God's call into the unknown.
Another example is Esther, a young woman who risked her life to save her people from genocide. Her story, in the Book of Esther, details how she rose to power and then risked it all to save the Jewish people from genocide.
In more recent times, Mother Teresa is an example of someone who showed great faith by dedicating her life to helping the poor and sick in some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. Each of these people faced difficult odds, but they persevered because of their strong belief in something greater than themselves. In doing so, they inspire us to have faith even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
Final thoughts: ways to strengthen your own faith and trust in God
There are many ways to strengthen your own faith and trust in God. For some people, spending time in nature and marveling at God's handiwork can be an effective way to feel closer to the divine. This could be a nature walk, star gazing, or service to fellow humans and nature.
For others, reading religious texts or engaging in prayer and meditation can be helpful. Reading is a great way to calm down from the worries of your everyday life and focus on something bigger than you.
Still others find that attending religious services regularly or being part of a supportive faith community strengthens their relationship with God. This is why so many religions demand fellowship – because it works.
Ultimately, there is no one right way to strengthen your faith. What matters most is that you find something that works for you and that helps you to feel closer to the Divine. Experiment with different approaches and see what feels most meaningful to you. By doing so, you will be sure to deepen your faith and trust in God.
