Jane Maffett

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 20:26-29

What an incredible few days that must have been, after Jesus died on the Cross.  Mary had seen the risen Lord on the morning of the third day, Jesus had appeared behind locked doors to some disciples and not yet to others. The mood turning from sadness to joy.  And poor old doubting Thomas, not able to believe it until he could ‘see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side’.  And so Jesus humoured him.

Doubt is a very human emotion.  We feel it right now in these strange pandemic times. We can have doubts about what our leaders are saying to us, about what those charts mean, about how and when we will come through this.  I prefer certainty, I was more science than arts at school (see my attempts at drawing!). I like to know that √25 is definitely 5; that ice melts to water and evaporates to steam; that plants breathe in carbon dioxide. 
So whilst I am reassured that ‘we are guided by the science’, at the same time I have doubts, knowing that the course of this virus is not certain, and affected by so many things.

But in our doubts there is one thing that is clear and certain – that the risen Jesus walks with us through our pain and our worries: after all he has been there himself.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, when we have doubts on where this is leading, help us understand that you are holding us in the palm of your hand every day.
Song – My Lighthouse
 
Prayer Request:  For all associated with St David’s Home.  Some residents are confined to their rooms at present and visitors are not allowed due to Covid 19.  Please pray for the residents, their friends and relatives unable to be with them and for the staff managing a very challenging situation.