Hope for the Doubter

Trust or Doubt

If you trust this, raise your hand:

Did you know that every day, on average, 11 banks are robbed in the U.S.? Trust it or doubt it? ¿Sabías que todos los días, en promedio, se roban 11 bancos en Estados Unidos? ¿Confiar en él o dudarlo?

It’s true!

Did you know you are more likely to be stung by a bee in windy weather? Trust it or doubt it? ¿Sabía que es más probable que le pique una abeja cuando hace viento? ¿Confiar en él o dudarlo?

It’s false

Did you know they have square watermelons in Japan because they stack better? Trust it or doubt it? ¿Sabías que tienen sandías cuadradas en Japón porque se apilan mejor? ¿Confiar en él o dudarlo?

It’s true!

Did you know penguins can smell toothpaste from a mile away? Trust it or doubt it? ¿Sabías que los pingüinos pueden oler la pasta de dientes a una milla de distancia? ¿Confiar en él o dudarlo?

It’s false

Perhaps in this day, more than at any other time in history, it is difficult to sort out truth and doubt.

One news source will report on an event or occurence, and another news source will report something that seems entirely contradictory to the first source.

There are so many examples of truth and lies that create legitimate doubt on what we can believe.

Some go out of there way to make question the very earth we stand on and the air we breathe.

Hope is Here: Hope for the Doubter

RECAP

Today, we are wrapping up our series titled “Hope is Here”. Doubt is a killer of hope because it brings confusion and fear.

In the New Testament, after Jesus died, there was such a sense of fear, confusion, doubt, and hopelessness. These people placed all their hope and trust in Jesus and in that moment, he was dead. Imagine how they felt.

There were reports that He had risen and that some disciples saw him, but when that news reached Thomas, he was not afraid to voice his concerns. Let’s open our Bibles to John 20:24-29

John 20:24–29 NKJV

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:24–29 RVR60

24 Pero Tomás, uno de los doce, llamado Dídimo, no estaba con ellos cuando Jesús vino. 25 Le dijeron, pues, los otros discípulos: Al Señor hemos visto. El les dijo: Si no viere en sus manos la señal de los clavos, y metiere mi dedo en el lugar de los clavos, y metiere mi mano en su costado, no creeré. 26 Ocho días después, estaban otra vez sus discípulos dentro, y con ellos Tomás. Llegó Jesús, estando las puertas cerradas, y se puso en medio y les dijo: Paz a vosotros. 27 Luego dijo a Tomás: Pon aquí tu dedo, y mira mis manos; y acerca tu mano, y métela en mi costado; y no seas incrédulo, sino creyente. 28 Entonces Tomás respondió y le dijo: ¡Señor mío, y Dios mío! 29 Jesús le dijo: Porque me has visto, Tomás, creíste; bienaventurados los que no vieron, y creyeron.

Jesus does not condemn the doubter

Jesus meets us where we are

Jesus invites us to experience Him

Jesus blesses those who believe without seeing

If you doubt:

Be real about where you are and talk to Jesus

Seek to experience Him - He will meet you where you are

Place your Faith and Hope in Jesus