Jesus Appears to Thomas
…28 Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Along with Simon, Thomas was another hard headed rationalist demanding visible proof before he would believe. Most human beings are doubters, there being an understanding that doubt is the precursor of belief. One thing leads to another, and our doubts register our willingness to wait...then see. Given time augmented with experience the doubter begins to believe, before the results appear to confirm their faith.
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe ~Saint Augustine
A farmer approached me on Saturday last, over a glass of Ouzo he asked me why his life was so dependent on believing that his crops will grow. I replied that crop failures teach us that not everything we believe will produce the result we expect, when life's lessons also encourage us to expect the unexpected, by preparing for the worst. Saving for a rainy day instills in us the absolute need to accept all that comes our way will try our patience, sufficiently to understand that life's trials grow us into a wiser, and more resourceful explorer well able to cope with the lessons that life sends us to strengthen our resolve to prevail over any thought of surrendering to our fear of failing to succeed in realising our aspirations.
Hebrews 10
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
The Saviour does not promise us a life without trials and tribulations; instead guarantees that He will be at our side during our trials, to ensure that all will be well when the task ahead appears overwhelming.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
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