Trouble Trusting

24 Now Thomas ... was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 Eight days later… The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:24-28

Thomas had a hard time trusting the other disciples, even though he had lived and worked with them for three years. It wasn’t till he saw Jesus alive with his own eyes that he believed the truth, and confessed Jesus as Lord and God.

Immigrants to this country often face a similar problem. Many have come out of dangerous situations where they learned to trust no one—not even friends or family. They suffered betrayal by people close to them—some going to prison, some even to death. And even in the U.S., there are still con artists who deliberately prey on them, because they know that newcomers don’t understand how everything works.

How do you teach people with this kind of history to trust you, when all you want to do is help? How do you help them to trust in Jesus, who is their best Helper of all? There’s only one way—by being endlessly trustworthy in everything you say and do. They will test you, and it will seem like it’s taking forever. But God is at work. In the end, God’s faithfulness can win over even the most frightened and distrustful people.

Lord, you are worthy of all trust. Help us to show your faithfulness as we care for these people you love. Amen.

By Dr. Kari Vo