September 26 | John 20: 24-29
DAILY READING
Childlike Faith in a Skeptical World
By Michael Guastella
One of my favorite movies growing up was Tim Allen’s “The Santa Clause”. (I know it’s only September, but I can still make a Christmas reference. I’ll save hanging the lights up until at least October). My favorite line from the movie is: “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing” – referring back to the faith that children around the world have in Santa Claus.
The line is a reminder that your internal mindset, beliefs, and expectations shape how you perceive reality. Instead of waiting for physical proof before you accept something, your faith and perspective actually allow you to recognize and experience it. In the movie, this line is used to explain how magic works. But in this passage of John, the concept can be broadly applied to our real, daily journey of growing in our faith.
In this passage, the empty tomb of Jesus had just been discovered, Jesus had just appeared to Mary Magdalene, and also to 11 of the 12 disciples. All except for Thomas, who evidently remains stuck on “seeing is believing” when the rest of the disciples share the news with Thomas that they had just seen Jesus alive and well.
Thomas isn’t buying it! He watched Jesus die. He saw the tomb. He saw the immovable rock that was placed in front of it. He saw the blood pouring down from the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, the wound from the spear in Jesus’ side and the nails in His hands. Thomas saw all of that and what he saw is all that he is willing to accept.
His stubbornness reveals itself in verse 24 when he says, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” How unfortunately familiar that attitude sounds, and how convicting it is to me! I can’t tell you how many times I have caught myself needing proof of something, either good or bad, before I refuse to accept it.
The passage ends with Jesus giving Thomas all the proof he needs while reminding him, and the reader: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” A good reminder to us all to avoid the cynicism that comes from isolation and to not retreat from fellowship when we go through a season of doubt or grief.
Thomas, in his absence, missed a firsthand account of Jesus’ return, and then further isolates himself with his disbelief. While his doubt thrives in isolation, we see through the other disciples that belief and faith is what is cultivated by being together. We are called many times to have a “childlike faith” in Jesus throughout the Bible. Not literal children, such as the belief in Santa. But a faith derived from humility and complete and total dependence on Christ, leaning not on our own understanding.
PRAYER
Father, remove the cynicism from our hearts. Let us look upon you and your word with childlike faith and give us the desire to gather in your name, to share in our joy of our faith in you, and to rely on what we see. Amen.
About the Author
MICHAEL GUASTELLA
I have been a Hilliard resident since 2022, and have lived in Columbus since 2014. I am originally from the Cleveland area. I work in downtown Columbus as a government affairs consultant. My wife, Rachael, and I have been attending UALC since early 2024.
What a beautiful point about fellowship and community as a great builder and supoort in our faith journeys. And how isolation can often increase doubt.