Reflections on Faith: Jesus Meets Us Where We Are, by Lydia Estenoz, Guest Writer

Ever heard the expression “Don’t be a doubting Thomas”?  It means don’t be of little faith, as in the account of one of Jesus’ most loyal disciples, Thomas, who having heard that his Savior had resurrected from the dead, remarked “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

It amazes me that Thomas would be the one to doubt his Master’s resurrection.  Thomas had been by his Lord’s side when they risked going into Bethany to see Lazarus, who “slept”, meaning he was dead.  Thomas replied without hesitation “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  Thomas meant that if Jesus would risk his life to enter Judea to see Lazarus, then he too would go. If they die, at least they die with Jesus.  Thomas loved Jesus to the point that he was willing to die with him, and this reveals how unbearable the thought of not having his Lord really was to Thomas.  

The Bible says that Jesus enters Judea safely and brings Lazarus back from the dead.  This is one of the greatest miracles recorded in the Gospels.  Great because as miracles go, bringing someone back to life is up there in the realm of impossible.  I believe what also makes this miracle great is that it reveals Jesus’ human side and his emotions.  

The Bible tells us that Jesus was so moved by the death of Lazarus, that he wept:

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.  “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.  Jesus wept.

I think about Thomas being there and watching Jesus weep.  He couldn’t have known that moments later he would watch his Lord bring Lazarus back from the dead.  I wonder what was Thomas’ reaction when the Jews who accompanied Mary and Martha remarked “Look how Jesus loved him…could not this man who gave sight to the blind have come sooner and saved Lazarus, whom he loved so.” 

I’ve always wanted to know if in that moment, Thomas felt despair because Jesus had arrived too late. He had no way of knowing that would be reverse. Moments later, Jesus calls Lazarus out from the grave. He has him loosened and set free.  Now, Thomas, having witnessed this with his own eyes, has absolutely no doubt of what just happened.  He watched Jesus do it, and he heard the words of Jesus right before resurrecting Lazarus where Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Fast forward to a similar hopeless scene at the crucifixion of Jesus.  This time the Lord himself was being crucified, a brutal death, unlike Lazarus who died because he had fallen sick.  Jesus was nailed to a cross.  Thomas had heard the account, perhaps seen his Lord being whipped, his side being pierced, his last breath drawn.  In other words, this was painful to bear for anyone, perhaps much more for a man who had been willing to die with his Lord. 

Thomas was heart broken, hopeless and grieving.   His heart could not bear what his eyes had seen and his ears had heard.  He had faith perhaps, but he had to be thinking “If Jesus is the one who resurrects people from the dead, who now can resurrect Jesus?”  In such sorrow, grief and hopelessness, his faith wavered.  Doubt crept in through the open door of human rationalization.  He was thinking about what he could see, rather than what could be.  Thomas had come to trust in the visible power and authority of Jesus.  His faith was being stretched, big time!

I love my family.  Whenever there’s a problem, a hurt or a situation that we as parents can “see” with our eyes, it’s hard to trust in that which is unseen- God.  As a woman of faith, who has seen God work miracles in my life, I still have a little Thomas doubt creep in when the going gets tough.  The bottom line is that it’s hard to believe that which you can’t see, but are trusting to be. 

This is the essence of faith.  Christ knows that it’s hard for your heart to overcome that which your eyes have seen.  Just like Mary who fell at the feet of Jesus to weep over the death of her brother Lazarus, and like Thomas who said unless he saw he couldn’t believe, we too will have moments of sorrow so heavy that our faith is dimmed.  Life has a way of serving up moments of despair when it is hard to trust anything other than our reality. 

But Jesus meets us where we are, at our reality, and he always arrives on time.  He’s never too late.  Having heard of Thomas’ unbelief, Jesus tells him “Here, stick your finger in my wounds, see, touch…don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” 

That’s right, Jesus wants you to believe, so he’ll show you the evidence.  But how awesome to be among those who believed without ever seeing. Your reality is not your destiny.  Believe that your current circumstance, your challenges and your grief, though real, are all subject to the one and only, Healer, Miracle Worker, Jesus. Believe that the desires of your prayers will come.  Believe.  When your faith is dim, keep walking alongside Jesus.  You’re bound to see a miracle!  God bless you this Christmas season, and may you grow in your faith in Jesus!

Read more in the New Testament about the death of Lazarus at Bible.com

---

Reflections on Faith

• “Doubting Thomas” comes from the disciple Thomas, who struggled to believe in Jesus’ resurrection without physical proof.

• Despite his doubt, Thomas had shown deep loyalty earlier—willing to risk his life alongside Jesus when they went to see Lazarus.

• The raising of Lazarus revealed both Jesus’ divine power and his human emotions, as he openly wept before performing the miracle.

• Witnessing Lazarus’ resurrection gave Thomas undeniable proof of Jesus’ authority over life and death.

• At the crucifixion, Thomas’ grief and despair overwhelmed his faith—he questioned who could possibly resurrect Jesus himself.

• Doubt often arises when we focus only on what we can see, rather than trusting in what God can do.

• Faith means believing beyond visible reality, even when sorrow or hardship makes trust difficult.

• Jesus meets us in our doubt, offering evidence and reassurance, but blesses those who believe without seeing.

• Core message: Your reality is not your destiny. Faith in Jesus transforms despair into hope and opens the door to miracles.