Learning to Trust Jesus When We Don't Understand

Kimberlea Hardy
Mar 29
4 min read

Sweat dripped down my face, the dust rag hung over my shoulder, and the bottle of Pledge was in my hand. I was on a mission to have the whole house cleaned before the guests arrived. This was the first time I had invited a group of ladies to my home for a gathering. It was out of my comfort zone, but I wanted the fellowship with other women from our church. It took me hours to clean, but I made sure there was not a dust bunny in sight.

As the time drew close to their arrival, I had everything in place. I was nervous yet excited to welcome the ladies in my home, share a meal, and get to know them better.

With each smile or hug I received as they walked through the door the tension, I felt melted like butter. The food was delicious, and laughter filled the room as we shared the latest events in our lives. That night was wonderful and became the start of our monthly gatherings.

Our friendships grew over those months. We learned more about one another and felt comfortable sharing some of the hard things life had thrown our way. I will never forget those ladies or the times we shared.

I sit here now laughing at my younger, inexperienced self. Not a single lady commented on my clean floor, dust- free ceiling fan, or dirt-free baseboards. It took me hours to prepare my house for my guests.

I can only imagine the excitement Jesus must have as He welcomes each one of children home.

A Promise

Jesus had just told His apostles that He was about to leave, and they could not go with Him. He followed that heart wrenching news with a promise.

He told them He was going to prepare a place for them. He said there are many rooms in His Father’s house. The place Jesus is talking about is Heaven. I can’t imagine the splendor, sparkle, and shine of the place we get to call home for all eternity.

He also told them He would come back to get them. That promise is for us as well.

Jesus’s promise was meant to comfort them. Even though they knew He was about to die, they did not fully understand what He meant. In that moment, Thomas said what I am sure the others were thinking.

A Question

Jesus went on to say that the apostles knew the way to where He was going. This seemed to confuse Thomas. He then proceeds to tell Jesus they don’t know the way because He hasn’t told them where He was going.

Jesus answered Thomas’s question by telling him that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus’s statement sets the tone for the apostle’s ministry to go and make disciples with the understanding that He is the only way for salvation. We see this when Peter and John are on trial and Peter addresses the Sadducees. He is urging them to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the only way to be saved. (Acts 4:12)

We see it again when Paul writes Timothy to instruct him on what to teach to the church at Ephesus. He tells Timothy that there is one God and one mediator. (1 Timothy 2:5-6) That mediator is Jesus.

As a mediator Jesus not only speaks the truth, but He is the truth. During His time on earth Jesus spoke life into those around Him. He healed the blind and the deaf. He cast out demons and performed miracles. He gave hope to those whose lives seemed hopeless.

Jesus not only gives us hope for this life, but He offers us a life with Him for all eternity. It is simple, yet we all have our doubts. Whether we struggle to believe Jesus really is who He says He is or to believe that we are here for a specific purpose, doubt can stop us from making the best decision of our lives.

A Doubt

Philip, just as confused as Thomas and still not understanding what Jesus meant about going to His Father’s house, told Him to show them the Father. (John 14:8) Once they saw the Father that would be good enough for them to believe.

Jesus tells Philip that he had already seen the Father because he had seen Him. Then He asked, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” (John 14:10, ESV)

The human side of Jesus was probably a little hurt and disappointed by Philip’s doubt. He told Philip if you don’t believe what I am saying, believe in the work that He had done. Jesus wanted Philip to remember the miracles performed while he traveled with Him.

Doubt leads to questions, and this can be a good thing. Questions cause us to look deeper at ourselves and examine why we do what we do. We need to understand the motives behind what we are doing and why we believe in something or someone.

Like Philip, Jesus wants us to know why we believe in Him. When we remember the miracles, He has performed in our lives, our faith in Him grows. We can look at His works and firmly stand on our belief that Jesus is who He says He is.

When doubt rises in our hearts, we can take it to Jesus. He will meet us with patience. He wants us to come to Him and ask questions. When we remember His faithfulness, we will see how much He loves us, and our doubts will begin to fade.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is not running around like a chicken with His head cut off trying to clean heaven for us. It is already clean. He is eagerly waiting for us to join Him in our Father’s house where we will all greet one another, share a meal, laugh together and learn more about our friends sitting at the table.

Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.