When You're Doubting God (why His grace still covers you) | Season 7 Ep 8

Have you ever felt defined by a single moment of doubt? Journey with us as we draw parallels between our own lives and the story of Thomas, famously known as Doubting Thomas. While many of us carry labels from our past actions, this episode uncovers the deeper layers of Thomas's faith and his significant role among the disciples. Through his story, we reflect on how our moments of uncertainty are not the sum total of who we are and discover how this narrative can bring fresh insights into navigating our spiritual paths today.

Finally, we embrace the transformative power of grace and mercy through Thomas’s journey. When fear and doubt seem overwhelming, remember that God meets us with understanding and love, just as He did with Thomas. This discussion highlights the enriching nature of grace and mercy, urging us to integrate these dualities into our lives. We encourage you to share this message of faith, standing firm in the assurance of God's unwavering support. Let this exploration of Thomas inspire a renewed perspective on your spiritual journey, recognizing that we are all embraced by divine love, even in our most uncertain moments.

Transcript

Discovering the Humanity of Thomas

Speaker 1 0:00

Hey all , thank you for joining us here at Grab the Faith , where we try to grab the faith and run with it . Join us as we try to learn a little more , grow a little more and live a lot more . I'm your host , bobbi Gentry Goodwin . Stay tuned for this week's episode . Good evening , good evening , and thank you for joining me . Thank you for joining me tonight on another episode of Grab the Faith . So we're deep in this study tonight and you know , have these episodes spoke to you , encouraged you or blessed you in any way ? Then I invite you to join the GTF family , the GTF family , the Grab the Faith family . Now , if you are part of us and you've been tuning in and listening to us , then I want to implore you to go ahead to like , rate and subscribe to this podcast . Don't wait . Don't wait till after the episode . Jump in and do it now so the word of God can continue to be spread across these airways . And listen . If you're taking any morsels away , if this is quickening your heart in any way or making you want to study more , making you grab that Bible out of the corner , then send or tell two people about this podcast or the previous episodes that they may be encouraged in their walk or grow a little more on their journey . We are trying to do just like these disciples did Teach and preach the word of God , not just for us , because the good word is for us , because the good word is for us , but the good word is also for the world . So tonight we're going to sit with the humanity of one of these disciples . See , they're not any different from us . They walk with Jesus , they talk with Jesus . And guess what ? We walk with Jesus and talk with Jesus too . And guess what ? We walk with Jesus and talk with Jesus too . And so tonight we're just going to dive into another disciple and sit with his humanity and our humanity right along the way , not making excuses but making understanding . Do you know who we're talking about tonight ? Well , if you don't , we're going to get right into him . So , who have we learned about saints ? Who have we learned about Grab , the Faith family ? We've learned about Judas . We've learned about Peter . We learned about Philip . We've learned about Andrew . We've learned about Nathaniel . And tonight we are going to hang out with another one of the 12 . We're going to hang out with Thomas . You guys know who Thomas is . Right , many people don't know any names of the disciples except Peter , james and John and Thomas , so y'all know him right . Well , if you don't , tonight , we're going to be introducing you to him , but if you do , we're going to be uncovering a little bit more about him . Tonight , in my interpretation , let's learn a little more about this man who moniker Doubting Thomas just doesn't do him justice . So before we head into that lesson , I want to recap our big announcement that we announced last podcast episode Coming March 2025 , in just the next month , we here at Grab the Faith are launching Growth Track 2025 .

Speaker 1 3:38

That's my fake applause . We are launching Growth Track 2025 , a class that seeks to uncover foundational truths about Christianity and our lives in it . And so if you know someone , or you yourself is new to the faith or has just been in the faith for a little bit of time , have foundational questions about Christianity , is a seeker or a knowledge seeker , or simply curious and want to know more about the Bible , about God , about Jesus , about Christianity , then I encourage you to tune in to Grab the Faith 2025 . We have a series of classes that will be sure to bless you , series of classes that will be sure to bless you and if it is not for you , maybe it's for someone else . So spread the news . Please encourage them to join us for this free , can I say it again ? Free . Can I say it again , free virtual class . So now that all of that is out the way , let me reintroduce some of us , or introduce some of us , to Thomas , affectionately known as Didymus . Affectionately known Didymus means the twin , affectionately known as Doubting Thomas . Many outline him as the eighth disciple of Jesus Christ . So if you have your Bibles , if you have your Bibles , let's go now to the word of God We'll be couching in John 20 , excuse me , john , chapter 20 , verses 18 through 30 , which says this Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things to her .

Speaker 1 5:27

Then , the same day , at evening being the first day of the week , when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews , jesus came and stood in the mist and said to them peace , be with you . When he had said this , he showed them his hands and his side . Where was he ? Pierced , his hands and his side . Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord . Anybody get glad when you see the Lord when he shows up in your life . Okay , I know I do , but anyway , I'm all off topic already .

Speaker 1 6:06

Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord . So Jesus said to them again peace to you . As the father has sent me , I also send you . I could just stop right there , but I won't , I'm going on . And when he had said this , he breathed on them and said to them receive the Holy Spirit . Is this not a word tonight ? Receive the Holy Spirit . If you forgive the sins of any , they are forgiven them . If you retain the sins of any , they are retained .

Speaker 1 6:44

Now , thomas , that's who we talking about Now . Thomas , called the twin , one of the 12 , was not with them when Jesus came . Oh , thomas , where were you Now ? Thomas , called the twin One of the 12 , was not with them when Jesus came . The other disciples therefore said to him we have seen the Lord . So he said to them unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side , I will not believe .

Speaker 1 7:23

And after eight days his disciples were again inside , and Thomas with them , he with them . This time Jesus came , the doors being shut , and stood in the midst , whoa , a miracle working God . The doors were shut and yet he stood in the midst and said peace to you . Then he said to Thomas , reach your finger here and look at my hands , and reach your hands here and put it into my side . Do not be unbelieving , but believing , but believing . And Thomas answered and said to him my Lord and my God , jesus , said to him , thomas , because you have seen me , you have believed . Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed . And truly , jesus did many other signs in their presence , in the presence of his disciples , which are not written in this book , but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ , the son of God , and that , believing , you may have life in his name .

Speaker 1 8:46

Now , that was a lot of text , but listen , if you didn't get nothing from that text , I don't know what to tell you . Listen , that's a good word of God right now , so you could just log off . We could just run away from that word , shouting that we are blessed because we have not seen him , but yet still believe . But listen , thomas had a little trouble , okay , because this was a case of seeing and believing , and seeing and not believing . Right , I mean not seeing and not believing . Okay , so this text left me with so many thoughts and questions , especially verse 30 .

Speaker 1 9:27

Jesus did a lot , and what we know from the word of God is he did a lot . That's not even in the Bible . He did a lot that's not even in the word of God that we know as the canon of scripture . There is many things that he did , but one of the things he says in these verses is that he did a lot of things , but some of the things he left in the Bible that we might believe . So I had to sit with that for a second . Okay , lord , you want us to believe .

Speaker 1 10:03

But then you see one of your disciples , thomas , saying hey , unless I put my finger there , unless I touch him , basically I won't believe . Jesus did so many signs and wonders that are not written in this book . And listen , I want to ask you tonight what causes you to believe ? Because we don't see him like the disciples did . We can't reach out and touch him like the disciples did . Now , some of us , you know we have these incredible encounters , but with angels and other things , but you know we don't see Jesus and walk with him and talk with him in the flesh , like the disciples did . What causes you to believe tonight ? See , because the truth is there's many things that we know that he does , and there's a whole account of other things we don't even have knowledge of . But what we do have knowledge of , do we yet and still believe ? When he healed your mother ? Do you yet and still believe ? When he paid your rent last month ? Do you yet and still believe ? When he spoke to you when you was in trouble or kept you out of jail ? Do you yet and still believe ? What makes you believe today ? Listen , he left this information for us to strengthen our belief .

The Duality of Doubt

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Well , friends , as I think about Thomas , I had to sit and wonder . I mean Thomas , born in Galilee , called Didymus the twin . Many people suspect he was a twin , not just called twin . He was called by Jesus to be one of his disciples and yet and still , many people suspect he was a twin , not just called twin . He was called by Jesus to be one of his disciples and yet and still , he said what he said . He walked and talked with Jesus and yet and still he said what he said . He even touched the resurrected body , jesus' appearances after his resurrection because this is after his resurrection we're talking about in the scripture in the book of John , after he was killed and after he was buried and after he was ascended to heaven and was resurrected . Jesus' appearance 11 , and all after his resurrection . That was documented , all after his resurrection . That was documented . His relationship with Thomas was not only , I think , intentional , but I think it was an act of grace . Why did Jesus leave it in this book ? Why did God put it on the heart of John to put it in this book ? Why didn't he just leave Thomas's doubt out ? Or why did he even put him on blast like this , like he is known as doubting Thomas ? This has followed him , you know , even into this day and age . He got a nickname , dial Thomas . So as we jump into tonight's topic , I want to just use that as a preface for us to hold space for , because tonight we're going to be talking about the duality of doubt . The duality of doubt .

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The year was about 1980 and I walked myself into a local 7-Eleven and I had a big jacket on my arm and I put some chips under there and some candy under there and I waited until the checkers , until the clerk , until their face was turned and I snuck it under my jacket . And then I shuffled about the store looking around , checking making sure that he wasn't watching me and making sure I look like I was doing some shopping . And then I got the courage enough to walk to the front door without pain . I could see from the windows my older sister and her friends much older than I hanging out in the parking lot waiting for me to come out with all their snacks . Because they had put me up to this . They told me to go in there and steal some stuff and as I headed toward the front door , the clerk came behind me . I didn't even know he was behind me . He came from behind me and snatched me up . He snatched my shirt and grabbed me by the shoulder and yelled out thief , thief , thief . Who was he talking about ? Was he talking about me ? That wasn't the first time I stole . It was actually the second . The first time I was about five years old . This time I was probably about nine years old .

Speaker 1 14:47

But what if that title followed me ? What if , everywhere I went , people called me thief ? What if that one day ? Or two times , might I add , but that one day he yelled that out at me has given me my value , has followed me , has become my nickname , has discounted me . Listen , we got something to learn about the duality of doubt . We have something to learn about Thomas tonight , because that one encounter with Jesus has followed him . But there's much more we need to know about him , and that's what we're going to be talking about tonight , because I don't know if you've ever been called a name or named something by what you've done . That was not in a shining light and that thing followed you . That's painful and it takes away the totality of who you are .

Speaker 1 15:47

The only one moment that really defines us is when we say yes to the master . See , that will define our lives . And likewise when we say no to the master . That's the one defining moment that will define our lives . Remember that rich man that came to Jesus and he left with a sad countenance because he wouldn't give up all his stuff . Those are the moments that define our lives .

Speaker 1 16:13

That one day gave me a valuable lesson . I really , really gave me a valuable lesson Never to steal from your sister , number one , but not to steal . I mean , let's be clear , that's what the Bible says . But I had to sit and ask myself I wonder what Thomas traded that day in his Trade , the day he doubted Jesus . That day he made that decision . Well , there's no way to know . The word of the Lord doesn't say . But what we can be assured of is that day supplied him with a duality of experiences that followed him the rest of his life , a duality that many of us can attest to . What's that duality , bobby ? What's that duality ? Well , I'm going to share it with you . That is a duality of doubt , that there's a duality to it . See , thomas doubted Jesus , but Jesus didn't doubt him . And that is exactly where we're going to couch tonight . Because listen , and listen closely . Put your ear close to the speaker , or put your face close to the camera or your television , or , if you're watching on YouTube , put it close up .

Speaker 1 17:37

We doubt too . It's not just Thomas . We doubt too . Thomas was not perfect . He wasn't always so sure of things . We read this in the word of God when it talks about Thomas . He wasn't perfect . He wasn't always so sure of things . He had questions . He needed reassurance in areas . But guess , who do too . We are not perfect . We doubt sometimes . We need reassurance in some areas . We got questions and listen .

Speaker 1 18:08

I don't know about you , but I can attest to those very same things . I'm not so always so sure of things and I find , just like Thomas , as we read in John , chapter 20 , one minute I could be sure and the next minute I can doubt . Or one minute I can doubt and the next minute I can be sure . The duality of doubt and listen . This shows up many times in life . It shows up a lot of times when I'm holding out on to the promises of God . When he has told me something , you know that I will live and not die , that I'm the head and not the tail , those promises of God . Sometimes I have a difficult time holding on to them and I start doubting . When he has told me something , whispered something in my spirit or given me a dream , or all of these things . Sometimes it's hard to hold on to the things that he has given you , the things that he has told you or spoken to you or over you . The things that he has told you or spoken to you are over you . I can believe it one minute and I could not believe it the next . Am I believing only when things seem to be headed in the way that I can see , or am I believing when things seem to be headed in the way that I can see , or am I believing when things look the total opposite ?

Thomas

Speaker 1 19:40

Let's couch on Thomas tonight . Things look the total opposite for them . Them disciples that have followed Jesus , that had heard him say over and over again that he was going away , over and over again that he was going away , that he wasn't going to be with them but he was going to return . But there , these disciples had seen him or heard of him crucified . They had seen him and heard of him in the grave . Should they still believe Two of the believers ? They went on back on the road . They left . They said we're going back and if you want more of that , there's a good lesson about that on this podcast right On the road to Emmaus . There's a good , good lesson about that . But here we are , thomas , sitting there thinking that Jesus is in the grave , that it's over , that . It's over , over that . The man he had been following has now gone and he don't know where , and now don't have anybody to follow . See , things look the total opposite for him and listen .

Speaker 1 21:09

Let's couch here tonight , because sometimes you're in a situation and it gets darkest before the dawn , you're in a situation and it's getting thick , and you know what the Lord has told you , you know what has been prophesied over your life , you know the word of God and the promises therein , you know how to pray and you know a mighty good father . And yet , and still , when things start getting tough , that doubt sometimes creep in . When the Lord has told you I'm going to elevate you , and then you get fired at your job Wait a minute , lord . Where's the elevation ? When the Lord told you that he's going to heal your marriage and you still finding women numbers in the phone . Wait a minute , lord . When the Lord told you he's going to deliver you from that addiction or deliver your child , and you're drinking again or you're smoking again , or you see that your child you don't even know where your child is because they in the streets . That's when doubt creeps in . Hold to your faith . Listen , if you don't hear me , say nothing tonight . Hear that . Hold to your faith .

Speaker 1 22:26

We got something to learn from Thomas . See , he was a doubting in one moment , but listen as we go . Uncover in the rest of our lesson . We got to know more about him . As we're going to uncover in the rest of our lesson , we got to know more about him .

Speaker 1 22:39

Thomas may have doubted , but Jesus never doubted him . Jesus called him . As a matter of fact , why did he leave it in the book ? He left it in the book for us to know when we get to a point saying God , are you really going to do what you said you were going to do ? I'm hoping you're going to come through , but I'm not so sure . See , thomas lived in a place that many of us live .

Speaker 1 23:08

As we're talking about the duality of doubt , he living in a place that many of us live , that there are two sides to each coin . Dual means something consists of two parts . And listen , we do too , just like Thomas . We are made of a dual part the flesh and the spirit . And listen , we made of the flesh and the spirit , and listen , we can have faith in the spirit and doubt in the flesh at the same time . But oh , our spirit got to be the stronger man . Our spirit got to be the stronger man . That's why you on this podcast , that's why you on this YouTube channel to sit and learn more about the word of God . So your spirit , man , will be built up and learn more about the word of God . So your spirit man will be built up , because whatever you feed will be the strongest . If you feed your flesh , it's going to be the strongest . So let's look at Thomas coined a doubter , but walking like a regular believer . He's doubting Thomas , but he's walking like a regular believer . Thomas has shown his faith in God way before he even doubted , way before . If you read the book of John and you study Thomas , listen . He had faith in God . He was ready to die for Jesus .

Speaker 1 24:27

In John 11 , it says this , verse 7 , then , after this , he said to this to the disciples this is Jesus , let us go to Judea again . And the disciples said to him Jesus , rabbi , lately the Jews sought to stone you . Are you going there again ? The Lord has said hey , let us go to Judea . They saying , hey , they looking to stone you in Judea . Are you going there again ? But in steps , thomas , one of the 12 , proclaiming his loyalty to the cause of Christ . In verse 16 , thomas . Verse 16 says this Then Thomas , who is called the twin , said to his fellow disciples let us also go , that we may die with him .

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Ooh , that's a good , good , good , good believer . He said I don't care what's going on in Judea , we going , and if Jesus dying , we dying too . See , thomas wasn't worried about who was in Judea or what they were going to do to disciples , or what they were going to do If Jesus said , let's do it , let's do it . He wanted to follow Jesus . And we see this again in John 14 , 4 and 6 , which says this and where I go , this is Jesus , and where I go , you know and the way you know . And Thomas says to Jesus . Thomas says to him Lord , we do not know where you're going . And how can we know the way ? Jesus said to him I am the way , the truth and the life . No one come to the father except through me .

Speaker 1 26:23

Listen to verse five . Thomas got some questions . Okay , lord , you say we know the way . Well , listen , we don't know the way . How can we know the way , lord ? How can we know the way Thomas wanted to know ? I could just imagine him thinking how am I going to get to you , lord ? How am I going to know the way to get to you ? Get to you , lord . How am I going to know the way to get to you ? How can we possibly know ? I want to know , I want to get to be with you . So Thomas wanted to follow Christ . He wanted to follow Christ even to the death , as we've read and talked about . This is a man that appeared to care deeply for the Messiah . See , thomas and listen .

Speaker 1 27:07

In this small text in chapter 20 that we're studying tonight , even though Jesus died and even though Thomas hollering , I ain't going to believe it unless I see him . I ain't going to believe it unless I put my fingers in his nails , in his hands and see the nails in his hands and his side . All of that he's saying . But listen , he still showed up , didn't he ? Even in the face of his doubt , he still showed up to where the other disciples were . He didn't get on back to the road to a mess and try to go home . He's still hanging out with them disciples . He wasn't there at first , but he sure came back . I just love this . See when , in our chosen text , mary tells him who she has seen and what he has said , and he speaks his doubt .

Speaker 1 28:05

The Lord kept this in the book . He wanted us to know the struggle that Thomas had . And let me tell you , our God is a God that can handle our doubts . He can handle our struggles . But , just like Thomas , we got to leave room for belief . Thomas said I ain't going to believe it unless . Unless he left room for belief . We still got to leave room for belief , saying we still , even though we in the thick of it , we still have to usher in a little hope , we still got to be in this word of God and on our knees , even when we doubt , even when we don't see it , still exercising that mustard seed

Embracing Grace and Mercy

Speaker 1 28:50

of faith .

Speaker 1 28:50

And listen . That's exactly where God met Thomas . Not only did he give him an experience , he gave him grace and an assurance . He made room for him and his humanity . And that's good news to me , because I want God to not only make room for my spirituality , but I want him to make room for my humanity , to meet me in my doubt , meet me in my fear , meet me when I'm wavering . I want him to meet me there , saints . And we serve a mighty good God who is willing to meet us just like he met Thomas . We serve a mighty good God who is willing to meet us just like he met Thomas . That's why it's in the book , in my interpretation , amongst other reasons .

Speaker 1 29:38

I'm so glad that God did not cast me away when I stole that candy , and I'm so glad that Jesus did not cast Thomas away when he showed his doubt Because I fall short , because I have doubts .

Speaker 1 29:55

But I can have doubts but not be double-minded . Let's be clear it's a different thing to be double-minded , but I still have doubts . We can have fear and still have faith . We can have doubt and still love the Lord and still want his will in our lives . We can land in these places of duality , but if we believe in who he say he is , his grace and mercy makes up all the difference . Do you hear it ? Grace and mercy , that's another duality , and that duality , grace and mercy continues to bless my life and I know it blesses yours too . Thank you for joining me tonight . I hope this lesson on Thomas blesses you . If you do like and subscribe , tell some people about it , share the message , because this is one message that not only needs to be heard and I'm talking about the word of the Lord but it's the message that can change anyone's life . May God bless you and may he keep you always . Thank you , thank you .