Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 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!”

John 20 : 26 - 27

Reading for this week : John 20 : 24 - 29

Thought for the week

Where do you put your trust when you really need some help? Who do you rely on when the chips are down? We all need a hand from time to time, and I expect we all have a few people in mind to turn to when we need to.

Today we're thinking about Thomas the apostle. Jesus has died on the cross and the bottom has dropped out of his world. It seems to be a problem no one can help with. All those things Jesus said about being resurrected on the third day have flown out of his mind. So when his friends say they have seen Jesus, it's too much to believe.

When we face a problem no one can help with, who do we turn to? God is the only one for whom no barriers, no limitations, exist. For him, death is just stepping over a threshold into a new kind of life.

He is the one to put our trust in, today and every day.

Prayer for this week (inspired by Matthew 11: 28-30)

In times of weakness and hour of need,
yours is the strength by which we carry on,
the shoulder we rest our head upon.

When our load is heavy and too much to bear,
yours are the arms stretched out to help us
the grace that we depend on.

In times of weakness and hour of need,
your voice is heard, ‘Come… find rest.’

This is grace divine,
the path we tread to wholeness of body and spirit,
the path that leads to you,
and for which we offer our offering of praise.

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship.

http://www.faithandworship.com/