“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” — John 20:29 NIV

If seeing is your standard for believing, you are missing out on the true power of Christian faith. When we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) we are inviting the providential hand of God to intervene in our cares and concerns. Faith is what builds hope, assurance, and peace in our lives. It keeps our head above water so we can live and fight another day.

There are times in life where it is perfectly appropriate to demand evidence. For instance, the parent may want to verify that their teenager is changing a behavior or a banker may want to verify that odds are in their corner that a loan can be paid back. When it comes to the things of God, however, faith is the substance that transforms hope into reality.

Thomas told the other disciples that he would not believe Jesus rose from the dead unless he could stick his finger in the nail pierced holes, and one week later he did. The evidence turned him into a believer, but no doubt that week without faith was troubling for him.