Doubting out loud

John 20:27  "Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see My hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into My side.  Stop doubting and believe.' "

The story of "doubting Thomas" shows us much about how God wants to deal with our doubts.  Jesus could have had a much different reaction here.  After all of the time, effort, teaching and love He had poured out to the disciples during His time on earth, after the excruciating pain and agony He had just endured on the cross, after He is standing before them as the resurrected Christ, and Thomas says he needs more in order to believe?  Jesus could have gone ballistic and given up on Thomas. 

Instead, He shows his infinite patience, grace and mercy once again.  He knows what it will take to convince Thomas, and He lovingly gives it to him.  Thomas can be commended here because he openly shared his doubts with Jesus.  He could have easily hidden his feelings, out of shame for having those feelings and/or out of fear of how Jesus might react. 

But unexpressed doubts tend to stay doubts, having never been expressed as questions that God is given an opportunity to answer.  He already knows what is in our heart without us having to verbalize it.  But taking the step to ask questions that reflect your doubts shows that you have at least some level of interest in getting answers that will either confirm or deny your doubts.  When doubts remain buried and unexposed, it tells God that we are okay living in that state of being.  He probably will not reward someone who doesn't openly and honestly seek Him. 

Let us all follow the example of Thomas.  As my study Bible says in the character profile of Thomas, "better to doubt out loud than to disbelieve in silence."