pastor’s corner By Paul Hathcoat
Where is Your
Trust? As family members and caregivers of special needs individuals, who or what do you trust? Do you trust the therapists, teachers, medical professionals and other family members that are critical to the health and well-being of your special needs loved one? Do you trust your own ability and judgment to do what’s best for them? Do you trust that someone will be there to take care of them when you are no longer here? Do you trust what the Bible has to say, whether you have read it for yourself or not? From a pastor’s perspective, let’s talk about trust and how we can self-check our trust levels. In the Book of John, chapter 20, verses 19-31, we read about the disciples of Christ meeting in a locked room shortly after Jesus’ death. I can’t imagine what they were thinking after the man they placed every ounce of trust in seemingly failed them and died. They had given up their own lives, families, occupations, and aspirations to follow a professed “savior” who told them that he would change the world forever. Then, they watched him give himself up and die to the same oppressors that they and their people had been cowering from for generations. Trust and doubt certainly filled the room they gathered in that evening. But that would not be the end of the story. “Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side” (John 20:19b-20a). Their trust in Christ had been restored in an instant as he, after his death and burial, had returned to them again! However, their friend and fellow disciple Thomas was not in attendance that evening. And when they recounted to him their fateful meeting with the Risen Christ, he doubted the accuracy of their statements. (Did you know this biblical passage is where we get the expression “doubting Thomas”?) Thomas needed to see for himself the wounds on Jesus to believe that he truly was alive again. The
Bible tells us that eight days later, Jesus appeared to them again and showed Thomas his wounds for him to believe, regain trust and remove any doubt that he was holding. I don’t think there is anyone among us who can’t relate to Thomas. It’s easy to believe in the presence of a loving Savior on days when everything is going well. We have no trouble seeing God’s love reflected in the face of our Down syndrome child when they’ve just had an accomplishment at school. We can easily trust in Christ’s presence when our autistic son or daughter has gone weeks without a major meltdown. But it’s so much harder to retain that same faith and trust when our loved one has been diagnosed with yet another medical problem or hasn’t made any progress in meeting milestones while everyone else’s kids seem to be exceling at everything they do. Like Thomas, we can feel truly abandoned by God when we go through periods so bleak that we can’t see or feel His presence. In times like that, it’s worthwhile to revisit the above scriptures. Jesus did not come back to life and stay here with us. He came back so that we would see with our own eyes that he truly is the Son of God. Shortly after revealing himself to Thomas and the others, he asked us all to trust him once again as he left and returned to his father in heaven. Let there be no doubt in your heart that you are not alone. Let there be no trust issues with Christ who died and rose again for you and me. Take this accounting of history, apply it to your own life, and remove all doubt in your heart. He is risen, he sent His Holy Spirit to be with us, and he hears our prayers even when it doesn’t feel that way. You can trust in that! Do you have a thought, idea, or information that you would like to see in this section in an upcoming issue? Email Paul Hathcoat at phathcoat@wrcc.org.
June 2022 • Special Needs Living
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