Blocked Hope
originally published in Arise Daily Devotions
Traffic stalled on the narrow one-way street and I knew I’d be stuck for a while. I didn’t reach for my phone or let frustration take over. Instead, I watched what was unfolding a few cars ahead.
A large delivery truck had pulled to the side while the driver unloaded boxes onto his dolly. Behind him, a man in a small car jumped out, angrily insisting he couldn’t pass with the truck in the way. He didn’t just voice his frustration—he followed the delivery worker on foot, berating him as he worked.
From where I sat, even with vision in only one eye, I could see plenty of room for my SUV to pass. If I could make it through, surely his compact car could too. But the man remained convinced his way was blocked.
Finally, another driver got out and calmly explained what the rest of us could already see: there was space to pass, or at least he could pull aside to let others through. Begrudgingly, the angry motorist moved his car to the side and let the line of traffic go by—still convinced it couldn’t be done.
As I drove on, I couldn’t shake the image. A man yelling at a stranger because he refused to see what was clear to everyone else. How often do we do the same in life? An obstacle appears, and instead of looking for a way forward, we get stuck—blaming circumstances, or even those around us who are just doing their jobs.
This reminded me of someone in Scripture who also struggled to see what was right in front of him. The apostle Thomas knew that struggle well. Though a faithful disciple, he wrestled with doubt when the others told him Jesus had risen.
“The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘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.’”
— John 20:25 (NKJV)
Eight days later, Jesus appeared again. This time, He turned directly to Thomas:
“Then He said to Thomas, ‘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.’”
— John 20:27 (NKJV)
Like the frustrated driver, Thomas couldn’t accept what others clearly saw. But Jesus met him right where he was—patiently, personally and powerfully. And friend, He does the same for you and me. When doubt clouds our perspective, Jesus doesn’t push us away. He invites us to see what we couldn’t see before.
Faith is not the absence of questions. It is the decision to trust Jesus even in the unseen.
“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
— John 20:29 (NKJV)
Maybe your path seems unclear and circumstances cloud the way you should take. May you choose to trust the One who sees what you can’t. Because the One who met Thomas in his doubt still meets us in ours—with compassion, grace, and truth.
And maybe you will discover, the path in front of you isn’t as blocked as it seems.
Pause and consider: What step of faith is God inviting me to take today—even if I can’t yet see the outcome?
