Read John 20:27-28; Matthew 14:28-33; James 1:5-8; Jude 1:22

He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-28)  

Our Father, encourage us—especially we who often doubt and feel ashamed of our doubt. May we realize that You are in the midst of our reflections and, through such inner searching, we can come to new insights and deeper depths that otherwise we would never have known.

Thank You for preserving the story of Thomas. We see ourselves portrayed so vividly in his doubts. May we come to a realization that You're pleased even in our searching, and You honour our honest questions. Thank You for accepting us in our struggles and understanding our doubts. Thank You for Your grace in understanding that though we weep when we lose our friends and family, and we question the tragedies and calamities of life, it isn't that we doubt Your right to rule. It's that we struggle with releasing our own rights...we're simply trying to reason our way through those mysterious valleys.

Father, we wish to know You as we've never known You before. May today be the beginning of increasing trust and decreasing doubts.

We ask this in the rock-solid name of Jesus, our Lord and our God. Amen.

Excerpted from The Prayers of Charles R. Swindoll, Volume 1, Copyright 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.