When Jesus responds to Thomas’ s reaction about his need to see him to believe he had risen from the dead how many of us could relate to falling into that trap of the need to have proof to know something will be done.

As Jesus says, “Have you believed because you have seen me?” John 21-29Hence the need to see something done to believe that it has actually happened.But why is our thinking determined by observing evidence rather than being filled with trust? I suggest there are several reasons for questioning that the outcome will be achieved.

Firstly, questions arise when the people involved that you are relying on in achieving your outcomes will they actually do what you hope they will do? Often you can make an assessment about the people in your lives and judge if they will enable you to achieve positive outcomes that will not only benefit you but others. Thus it becomes an issue of trust.

Secondly, doubts exist when what is asked to be achieved may not actually be possible. Too many times maybe what we are asking to be achieved requires a number of conditions. The timing might be wrong, the environment inappropriate or what you need to achieve your goals unavailable. Hence are you setting the bar too high?

Thirdly, who decides if the expectations of goals to be reached are at a level that is satisfactory to all stakeholders? So is your goal perceived by everyone has the best possible outcome or is everyone seeking different conclusions that are advantageous to themselves? Hence making the goals not achievable.

Finally, just like Jesus’ message to Thomas the outcomes are a result of our actions. If we doubt or begin to change our goals we are unlikely to succeed.

However if we believe and persist despite the doubts, we are making our opportunity to be successful achievable. Just like Jesus said to Thomas, “happy are those who have believed and have not seen”. I believe focus on the process and hence the doubts are alleviated and furthermore many outcomes are possible. After all isn’t this faith is about not knowing the outcome?