Naming a child is difficult – this kid has to live with his name the rest of his life! That’s a lot of pressure.

When it came time to name our son, my husband and I could not agree. I liked Philip and Lewis. He liked David, Jr. and Zachary. We kept discussing and searching and trying on variations of all kinds of names…and we just couldn’t find one we both liked.

Then one night, I was sitting in a Bible study. We were in John 20, and our teacher got to the verses that discuss the apostle Thomas’ refusal to believe Jesus had risen unless he saw Jesus in person. Our teacher noted that Thomas always gets a bad rap for this – called “Doubting Thomas” by generations of Christians.

But, she said, this story isn’t so much about Thomas as it is about Jesus. Look what Jesus did when Thomas had doubts: Jesus didn’t roll his eyes and say, “I am so fed up with Thomas! I was with him three years, I literally told him I’d die and rise again, and he still doesn’t believe me??” Jesus didn’t walk away from his doubting disciple. He didn’t punish him or yell at him or give up on him.

Jesus loved Thomas. And so, knowing his disciple’s doubts and weaknesses, he met Thomas right where he was. Jesus didn’t just show Thomas He was alive, He called Thomas forward and said, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands; reach here your hand and put it into my side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” He met Thomas in his doubts, He loved Thomas through his doubts. And, as a result, Thomas went on to spend his life telling people the wonderful news about the risen Savior. It is believed Thomas traveled all the way to India during his lifetime, starting churches throughout that region.

I was so encouraged by that study, that I came home and told Dave we had to name our son Thomas. Ours is a gracious, loving God who meets us where we are. The story of Thomas reminds us of that. I wanted our son to be a testimony of that truth.

So, today, if you are doubting God’s goodness or His power, or His purposes in your life, know you are not alone. Know God isn’t upset with your doubting. He will meet you right where you are. He will show Himself to you. He has not forsaken you, friend!

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13