Daily Devotion

John 14:1-7

Faith, not certainty

Lord, we do not know where you are going. (v. 5)

Thomas often gets a bad rap. This is evident by the name traditionally given him: “Doubting Thomas.” But is Thomas or his questions so different that us or the questions we often have? Do we always have a clear sense of where God is leading us? Later in John’s gospel Thomas asks for proof of the resurrection. Don’t we also search for answers and sometimes even question whether God is present in our lives?

In our society and in much of Christian culture there is a sense that certainty or being without doubt is the same as faith. Right belief or adherence to a statement of “faith” are required in some communities.

The Greek word often translated in to English as “faith” is pistis, which can also be understood as trust. In a way faith could be defined as trust while still having doubts or questions. God desires our trust, not our certainty or lack of doubt. In a prayer we use at the Edge House, Thomas Merton begins, “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going...” yet still ends with “...I will trust you always...” God knows we have questions, but still leads us on the way.

God, give us good courage to trust in you even when we don’t know they way. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Prayer concern: Those bound by certainty