At times I can think that I am brave and at other times the trait is nowhere to be found. Thomas reminds me of that. It was he who was faced with the possibility of dying should they return to Judea to see Lazarus that piped up and said, if we die, we die with him.

Put Thomas in the middle of persecution and somehow he lost a step. He was not in the room when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,^[d] was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” – John 20:24-25 ESV

I am sure that his moment of bravery and his moment of doubt should not define him. I have moments I am proud of and other moments that I wish I could forget. What I do know is that when I am walking with Jesus, He brings out the best in me and my faith is strong and sure. Conversely, when I am away from Jesus, it triggers doubt.

That is where David went – He knew God was the creator of the world. He knew that it was a foundational truth to rest his faith in. I am sure that as a disciple of Jesus I need to believe who He is as well as what He has done. He has the authority and power to save me because He is omnipotent and omniscient. He spoke and it existed.

Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created. – Psalm 148:5 ESV

I think that is why it is important and powerful to begin and end each day with thanks. In fact, it might be a radical way to live – because being thankful drives me into the world of hurt with a larger sense of hope.

He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! – Psalm 148:14 ESV

Where there are disciple-making movements we need to pray. Pray that those involved will delight and find comfort in Christ alone. Pray that there will be no deterring from continuing to fight the good fight. Thomas has been known to have shared the gospel with Persia and then India. In India he was martyred for his faith. Even if I am emotionally complex, in God’s hand I am His purpose for the world I live in and I am so thankful I can be what He wants me to be.