"Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' "
John 20:27-29

For myself, Thomas is a prototype of all of us who are, at one time or another, plagued by doubts. Just a few chapters back in John, we find this same man, Thomas, declaring his allegiance to His Lord: "Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with Him (John 11:16)." Thomas was a man who was committed and courageous, willing to go to the cross for Jesus.

But an event occurred in his life that literally 'rocked' him. It was unexpected! Jesus was killed....then buried! He became disillusioned. Whenever a person invests so much into a relationship and then sees that relationship not meeting up to expectations, of course there is going to be some kind of a reaction. It hurts .... it is extremely disappointing! What I see Thomas doing, is in my opinion, absolutely normal! He takes a step back, retreats to a safe place, and as he is doing so, maybe even says to himself: 'I'm not going to get burned again. Next time it's going to take the Rock of Gibraltar, someone I can count on to be there for me all my life, before I give of myself so completely." So let's follow the movement: Once upon a time he believed - he was convinced that Jesus was the answer to his heart's deepest longings, the fulfillment of all his dreams. But then the absolute worst thing that could have happened did happen. He saw Jesus go to the cross. He saw Jesus buried. He saw the tomb and the massive rock rolled up against it. And right there, all of his dreams died with Jesus! So when he heard the incredible, the thoroughly unbelievable, word of the other disciples that Jesus was alive and had appeared to them, Thomas needed proof before he could recommit his life.

Now enters Jesus back into his world! Jesus understood Thomas' doubts as He understands all our doubts! He recognized Thomas' fears as He recognizes all our fears! And then looking straight into Thomas' eyes, Jesus says, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side" - Wow! Jesus knew what Thomas needed and He met that need! Likewise today, He knows just what our needs are: maybe it appears that our lights have gone out and the pit is so deep and there's nobody around and tomorrow seems bleak but guess what? He still shows us His hands and He still shows us His side. And He says, "Here, my child, here's proof. I am alive, and I live forever! And I will never leave you or forsake you." But there is one thing He does ask of us: "Stop doubting and start believing!" He's always giving us a choice and leaving the decision to us!