HOW COULD I MISS SO MUCH SOMEONE I HAVE NEVER KNOWN? -- Devotional for September 13, from "Good Seeds"

Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me have you believed? Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believed.” Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory: (John 20:29; 1 Peter 1:8)

In the movie, “Facing the Giants,” the coach of the Shiloh High School football team was fearing removal after six unremarkable seasons. He felt like a failure at home, too, for after four “unsuccessful seasons” of trying to get pregnant, he and his wife remained childless. “Lord, You know we love You and have dedicated our lives to You – and yet You deprive us of even these simplest of blessings. Why?” It was especially hard on the wife, for whenever she saw children with their mothers, she cringed with envy and sorrow, wishing for a little one of her own. One day she lamented to her husband, “How could I miss so much someone I have never known?” Her mother’s instincts had gone into overdrive as she imagined herself cuddling and dressing and feeding – and loving – the faceless, nameless child she feared she would never have. What she said in despondency and doubt, Christians can say in faith and hope: “O Jesus, though I have never seen You, I love You. Someday I will see You – but right now, O how I miss You!" After His resurrection Jesus had appeared several times to His disciples, but for some reason Thomas was not among them. When he heard reports that His Lord had conquered death and was again “in the land of the living,” well, it was just too much to hope for. Human wisdom says, “If it’s ‘too good to be true,’ it usually is!” If Thomas were alive today we’d say he was from Missouri, the “Show-Me State!” Without seeing for himself he just couldn’t allow himself to believe. For that weakness he will (hopefully not) forever be called, “Doubting Thomas”! On yet another appearance of Jesus to His disciples, Thomas was in attendance, and Jesus accommodated his doubts by showing him His crucifixion scars. Though his doubts were assuaged, he didn’t have the unspeakable joy that should have followed, not when Jesus had to chide Him: “My friend, I have given you your desire, but with it comes “leanness to your soul” (Ps. 106:15). There’s a blessing reserved for all who see Jesus with spiritual eyes, though their physical eyes have not yet had the pleasure. This takes strong faith, leading to deep love, causing surprising joy. Do you miss Him whom you have never seen? Good. God’s got you right where He wants you. And just like a baby was born to that childless couple, you and I will someday see and hear and touch (I John 1:1) the Lover of our souls, and walk with Him in the Paradise of Glory!