Dear Family and Friends,

As I began preparing this week’s devotional, God spoke – through a news story about a trusted interpreter who was charged with stealing millions from the athlete he once worked for.

Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend or colleague? I have.

And as we all know, it can take years to overcome the shock, anger, grief, and loss of self-confidence.

The news and our stories highlight how impossible it is to go through life without being betrayed by someone we trust.

The advice we need today is no different than when this verse was written. “Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend.”  Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And this is why, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”  Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬

So now that we know who to not put our trust and faith in (ourselves and our neighbors), let’s spend today looking closer at who we can trust – Jesus.

And how Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, helped two of His followers – Mary and Thomas – grow their faith.

“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.’
Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”  ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Many of us start our walk with Jesus just like Thomas – full of doubts.

I had a conversation recently with a young man who was full of doubts about the Bible, God and Jesus. He struggled to get beyond all the evolution theories on the internet.

This is just one of many obstacles we face in our personal faith walk, and as we help others with theirs.

But let me share how I got over my doubts and hope to help my young friend get over his.

When I looked back at my life, the path to where I am today, there were just too many instances of ‘luck’ to conclude it was all just a coincidence, a random series of events. 

For example, I lost count of how many decisions Aileen and I individually made to have even met.

Jesus showed me what I needed to see, just as He did for Thomas. He wants to show you evidence of Himself as well.

As we read this next passage, take note of how differently Jesus treated Mary than He did Thomas.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).
Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why did Jesus tell Mary to not hold Him?

Unlike Thomas, Mary needed no proof that Jesus had resurrected.

But by calling Him Teacher, one has to wonder if she fully understood His divinity. 

And her hold on Him was likely a reaction to the pain of Friday. It’s as if she was saying – I’m not letting go of You again.

Jesus’ response was not a rejection but His way of clearly saying who He was. And preparing Mary for the next step in her faith walk. I must go so that the Holy Spirit may come. 

It’s now been three years since I started writing these devotionals. A few of you have asked how I come up with my topics. They’re not mine.  

Over the years I’ve come to rely on the Holy Spirit to tell me what to write. At first, I got really nervous if He didn’t speak by Friday. By Saturday I was in full on panic.

Not so today. Baby steps of relying on Him has led me to trust in Him. He’s grown my faith.

Jesus is encouraging all of us to start with those baby steps. Trust Him, watch Him deliver, and before you know it, your faith will grow.

Let me close by saying this: Jesus knows what we need. All He asks is that we trust and follow His lead.

In love always,