Choose To Believe His Word

In a world of endless opinions and shifting truths, one choice remains eternally significant – the truth of God’s Word. As Christians, we are called not just to read the Bible, but to believe it, trust in its promises, and live by its truths. Choosing to believe God’s Word is more than a one-time decision; it’s a daily commitment to stand on His promises even when circumstances challenge our faith. This choice is foundational to our spiritual growth, our relationship with God, and our ability to navigate life with hope, peace, and purpose. When we believe God’s Word, we open our hearts to transformation and align our lives with the unshakable truth of who God is and what He has said. Let’s discover how this single decision can transform your perspective, renew your mind, and guide you through life’s most challenging moments.

During His time on Earth, Jesus was aware that He would die and rise from the dead. He communicated this to His disciples on several occasions and specifically mentioned that He would rise on the third day. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus made multiple predictions about His death and resurrection, affirming that He would die and then come back to life. For example, it says in Mathew 17:22-23 that, “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, ²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”

After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples. However, Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, was not present at Jesus’s first appearance. When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the Lord and spoken with him, he was sceptical. They had locked all the doors and windows, yet Jesus simply appeared inside the room. The disciples shared their incredible experience with Thomas, but let’s look at how he responded to this remarkable news. Let’s take a look at this from John 20:24-25

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

My friend, you might think, “Oh, I want to believe; I’m trying, but it’s hard to believe.” Let me tell you that it’s really a matter of choice. Just as Thomas chose not to believe, you also have the option to choose to disbelieve. I’m sharing what the word of God says, and if you decide not to believe it – if you say, “I just don’t believe that” – then you can live your life that way. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. This applies everywhere – in heaven, on Earth, throughout the universe. It’s a definitive pronouncement: ‘I call Heaven and Earth to record against you this day that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life that you and your seed may live.’

God gave you a choice. No one can force you to do anything or to fail. Thomas declared, “I will not believe.” That was his choice. If you struggle with unbelief, it’s because you are walking by sight and not by faith. Thomas refused to believe what he couldn’t see or feel. Yes, God gave us five senses – hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch – which are essential to help us function in this life. But if we do not renew our minds to acknowledge their limitations, they’ll hinder our faith. Thomas insisted, ‘Unless I see Christ physically, I won’t believe.’ He said, “Unless I see the nail prints and put my finger in them, and put my hand in His side, I will not believe.” Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Faith pleases God, and He’ll meet you where you are.

Faith can perceive things that the senses cannot. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Thomas made a conscious decision not to believe. Unbelief is always a choice. He declared, “I will not believe,” and some of you might think, “I don’t want to feel this way. I’m trying to believe.” However, you have chosen to remain in this mindset. You were taught to think in a particular way, and you have embraced those beliefs, unwilling to let them go. You’re holding on tightly to your own thoughts. Yet, you have access to something that can change your thinking. The Word of God has the power to transform your mindset; it is given to make you brand new.

Thomas expressed his disbelief by stating, “I will not believe.” Some of us may feel that it’s not our choice to disbelieve. However, the truth is that believing or not believing is a choice we all make. Nobody forces us to hold certain beliefs. While we might have been taught particular ideas, if you’re struggling with unbelief, it’s often because you’ve accepted the opinions of others. You’ve embraced the mindset of the world around you and, in doing so, may have hardened your heart towards God by neglecting His teachings. Ultimately, you have chosen your current state. Many people resist this idea and prefer to blame others for their circumstances. They argue, “You don’t understand; my upbringing shaped who I am,” or, “I was abused as a child, and that’s why my heart is hardened.” We come up with various excuses and look to place the blame on others. Even Adam attempted to shift responsibility when God asked him what he had done; he replied, “It’s the woman you gave me.” In that moment, he tried to deflect blame back to God.

When Thomas declared, “I will not believe,” it was a choice he made. He chose to believe that Jesus could not be raised from the dead. Having witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and what happened afterwards, he decided, “I will not believe anything I can’t see.” Perhaps your situation is so dire that, despite your prayers, you cannot believe until you see a breakthrough. We often blame others for our hardened hearts, but the truth is that each of us has a choice: to believe or not to believe. You can choose whether to let your background trap you, imprison you, and keep you in pain, or you can decide that you will not allow these challenges to defeat you. Many of us are more influenced by the world than we should be, especially as our society becomes increasingly ungodly and secular. With advancements in technology, we can now do things that previous generations could not. There is a mindset among people today that seeks a physical or natural explanation for everything. Don’t adopt that mindset.