Peace for the doubting heart!
After eight days, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:26
The dreaded day has come! You are looking down into the coffin of a dear friend. The weight seems too heavy for your heart to bear. To think, the last time you saw your friend, you were running away and abandoning him to a mob. You did not protect or stand up to help. You were only concerned about your own well-being. Now it is too late to apologize and make things right.
No doubt these thoughts were running through the disciples’ minds and hearts on Easter morning. This would include Thomas. He boasted with all the other disciples that he would not abandon Jesus but in the end, his life outweighed Jesus’ life. Now his body was in the tomb and there would be no opportunity for Thomas or the other disciples to seek Jesus out and apologize.
Fortunately for the disciples, Jesus did not remain in the tomb. He burst out in triumphant victory. He came to his disciples that very night on Easter. His first words to them, “Peace be with you!” He reassured them that the heavy weight of guilt has been paid for and they are at peace with God. However, one disciple, Thomas, was not there. The other disciples told him the good news of peace that relieved their heavy hearts. Thomas did not believe them. He adamantly refused to believe unless Jesus appeared to him. Thomas held on to his heavy heart by doubting God’s grace in Christ.
What weighs heavy on your heart? Is it the crushing guilt that comes when you doubt God’s promises? Are you doubting God’s peace when you are suffering from pain and misery? Do you think God is out to get you because you failed God’s tests? We have every reason to doubt God’s peace if that peace was dependent on us!
Thanks be to God that his peace is dependent on Jesus’ resurrection alone! Thomas found this out a week after the other disciples. Jesus appeared again to them, and the first words Thomas heard was, “Peace be with you!” Jesus offered Thomas peace even though he doubted and held on to his heavy heart.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus comes to you and says, “Peace be with you!” He is alive today and he offers lasting peace for the doubting heart. Whatever doubts have risen in your hearts, Jesus has paid for those sins, and his resurrection is living proof that you are at peace with God. This is the comfort that Jesus offers to all his disciples as we deal with heavy hearts. Let Christ lift those burdens with his peace.
Dear risen Savior, grant us peace for all the times we doubt your word and promises. Give us peace when our hearts become weighed down with guilt. In your name we pray. Amen!