It was the evening of the third day after Jesus’ death.  That morning, two of the disciples saw the empty tomb, and Mary told them she saw Jesus and he was alive.  Due to this, the disciples met together behind locked doors in fear of the Jews. And suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst.  He showed them the wounds in his hands and side.  One of the disciples, Thomas, wasn’t there.  When the disciples told him they saw Jesus and he was alive, Thomas didn’t believe them.  He said he wouldn’t believe unless he physically touched Jesus’ wounds in his hands and side.  Eight days later, Jesus suddenly appeared again to his disciples, through locked doors.  Thomas was with them this time.  Without Thomas saying a word, Jesus went to him and invited Thomas to touch the wounds in his hands and side, and Thomas believed that Jesus was alive and was God himself.  He exclaimed in verse 28 “My Lord and my God! 

I am reminded through this passage that Jesus reveals himself to us in tangible ways despite all obstacles. The most tangible way he continually reveals himself to us is through his Holy Spirit.  Verse 22 reads “Then he breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”.  The disciples were born again and received the Holy Spirit of God within them at that moment. 

I’ve had my “doubting Thomas” moments.  One was when my daughter struggled to get pregnant due to PCOS.  Her great sadness broke my heart and I began to doubt if she’d ever conceive a child.  One day, during this time, I was walking on the beach and I asked God to help me find a piece of blue or pink sea glass as confirmation that my daughter was going to conceive a child.  Within 5 minutes a blue piece appeared before me.  Like Thomas, I still didn’t believe.  I asked to find another pink or blue piece as double confirmation.  God allowed me to find a second, AND a third blue piece during that walk.  He tangibly revealed himself to me just like he did to Thomas.  My daughter is expecting a baby girl in September.  When we counted back 9 months from her due date, we realized she conceived just one week after my “blue sea glass confirmation walk” on the beach. The blue sea glass and the timing that my daughter’s baby was conceived, were both tangible revelations of God with us…of his power, faithfulness and love. 

During other “doubting Thomas” moments I’ve been physically healed, guided, encouraged, empowered, given supernatural belief, and the desire and ability to surrender my fears to him.  Each time God has arranged the details of my life in ways I could have never imagined or hoped for.  Each and every time I knew it was the precious working of the Holy Spirit…all tangible ways the Holy Spirit revealed himself to me.    

He is faithful even when we are not.  Consistently, and especially during our “doubting Thomas” moments, he, suddenly appears despite all obstacles (our circumstances that feel bigger than him, our fears, doubts, lies from the enemy etc.).  He reveals himself to us in tangible ways…so we will believe that Jesus Christ is alive and is “My God and my Lord”.  What a wonderful Savior!