God’s Presence Brings Healing

Scripture tells us that Thomas was absent when Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection (John 20:24). Picture Thomas’s friends telling him what happened: “Jesus is alive! The story isn’t over!”

How did Thomas respond? He refused to believe unless he saw the Lord for himself and touched His wounds with his own hands. People sometimes call him “doubting Thomas.” But might he be “hurting Thomas”? Or “traumatized Thomas”? Just because someone’s faith doesn’t come as easily or quickly as others’ doesn’t make them a substandard Christian. It may mean they need certain kinds of experiences with God that others don’t.

So how did Jesus respond to Thomas’s doubt? John 20:26 tells us He showed up again, eight days later. He pronounced a blessing of peace (not a curse of rejection) and invited Thomas to touch His wounds. He told Thomas to no longer be faithless but to believe. Thomas blurted out, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus replied, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (v. 29). We have a heavenly Father who will cross every barrier to help us heal, that we might more fiercely trust Him and believe.

We live in the tension of pain and hurt, which dims our view of God. If we live suspicious of His goodness, we may miss His goodness when it comes. But make no mistake about it: His goodness has come and is coming.

You’ve no doubt experienced trauma. God wants to heal those places in your story and restore you. And you likely have experiences when your soul felt traumatized by danger only to learn that the threat wasn’t as real as you believed it to be.

The Enemy of your soul doesn’t care about the difference between real trauma and misinterpreted experiences; he just wants your heartache to hold you captive. Thankfully, you have an advocate in Jesus (1 John 2:1), who intends to lead you into all truth so that you can be truly, sincerely, profoundly free.

Sometimes God brings us back to a memory so He can give us a more redemptive interpretation. And sometimes He provides new experiences that help heal our painful memories. If you follow Jesus, if you enjoy His presence and respond to His voice, then you’re on the path of healing and transformation.

Was this plan helpful? We adapted this plan from Closer Than Your Next Breath: Where is God When You Need Him Most? by Susie Larson. Check it out for more.