Now What #2 - Thomas - Mark

Doubt or Distance?In a world where everything is questioned, it’s no surprise that faith can feel uncertain too. We’ve been trained to investigate, to look for proof, to weigh both five-star and one-star reviews before we trust. So when it comes to God, many of us quietly ask, What’s actually true?Thomas understood that tension—and more than that, he gave it a voice. When the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord,” his response was simple and honest: “I wasn’t there… unless I see, I won’t believe.” He said out loud what many of us feel but often keep hidden. It wasn’t stubbornness—it was the gap between what he hoped was true and what he had personally experienced.But beneath his words was something deeper: Thomas’ real issue wasn’t doubt—it was distance. He hadn’t seen Jesus. He hadn’t had the encounter the others described. What he longed for wasn’t just answers, but presence.That gap is familiar. It shows up in unanswered prayers, unexpected grief, strained relationships, or dreams that never came to life. Often, we don’t lose faith because we stop wanting to believe, but because our reality doesn’t match our expectations. And instead of voicing that, we tend to hide it.But Thomas didn’t hide. He brought his doubt into the open—and Jesus met him there.When Jesus appeared, He didn’t rebuke Thomas. He invited him closer. “Put your finger here… stop doubting and believe.” Jesus closed the distance.This is the heart of faith: not pretending certainty, but bringing our honest questions to Jesus. Faith isn’t blind; it’s trust formed in relationship. As Hebrews reminds us, it’s being sure of what we hope for, even when we cannot yet see it.So whatever gap you’re carrying today, don’t keep it hidden. Bring it to Jesus. He still meets people there.Mark