For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed -- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

-- 2 Corinthians 4:6-11

There are times lately where I've doubted God's existence, His goodness, or His provision. Interestingly enough, those times of doubt are always superficial; I'm a shallow doubter.

Like Thomas I've said, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

How did JESUS respond to such obstinacy? "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

Thomas appropriately responded, "My Lord and my God!"

I was thinking about that passage on Sunday morning. (Sometimes Sundays can be a challenge, since those have always been family days for us. As Johnny Cash sang, "'Cos there's something in a Sunday, that makes a body feel alone.") Well, this past Sunday morning at church, I felt JESUS again reassuring my soul, saying, "Reach your finger here." I felt like He was telling me to reach out my hand, to touch my brothers and sisters in Christ, because they are His presence here with me, and to "not be unbelieving, but believing."

I'm humbled by His mercy.

Yesterday I quoted 1 John 1:5, and essentially asked God how He can truly be light when sometimes all I see is darkness. I think His response, almost humorously, is found in John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (ESV)

I'm feeling better today. Sleepy, but recharged in many ways. Maybe it's all of your prayers sustaining me?