I Don’t Know…
I Don’t Know…
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”
– Proverbs 3:5-6 HCSB
“Are you being honest and real about the questions that you have?
A personal encounter with Jesus should lead to a transformed life.
Have you believed… have you put your faith in Jesus, or have you allowed these questions to keep you from saying, ‘I believe?’”
– Matty Finlay
There are so many things in life that I don’t know… or don’t understand… and find myself questioning. There are some things that I just don’t understand.
- Why do bad things happen to good people, or why do they happen to the innocent and young?
- Why do tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters claim and harm so many lives?
- Why do people get sick and suffer?
- Why does sharing our faith seem so hard?
- How a country can turn its back on its heritage based on Christian values for the values of the few and the loud?
- Why I do the things that I do and don’t do the things I want to do?
- Is Jesus really who He said that He is?
- Why do I always seem to wrestle with these questions (and some far deeper and darker) when sleep is restless and difficult?
But then, somewhere in the recesses of my heart and mind, I’m reminded of today’s verse and following passage about Doubting Thomas.
- Reminded to Trust in the Lord with all my heart and to lean not on my own understanding.
- Reminded to acknowledge Him in all my ways.
- Reminded that if do those things, He will direct my path and my way.
- Reminded that His ways are not my ways (and my ways are not His.)
- Reminded that there is sin in this world that has corrupted the hearts and minds of His creation.
- Reminded that sometimes this sinful creature makes poor choices that affect the lives of people and the world around them.
- Reminded that God loves me (and us) anyway.
- Reminded that my questioning and wondering is okay… and can lead to real growth.
In fact, He loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to live and die and live again for us…
So that we might be saved…
So that we might have life and live it abundantly…
So that we might know peace and hope… and forgiveness and mercy…
So that we might know love.
And all we have to do is trust and believe.
There’s that word again… Trust
But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!”
After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”
Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”
Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”
– John 20:24-29 HCSB