Blog

The Mix!

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:17

This powerful moment in Matthew’s Gospel occurs after the resurrection. The disciples have followed the instructions to meet Jesus on the mountain in Galilee. When they see Him, they respond in worship yet the text is honest: some doubted.

The Greek word for “doubted” (distazō) does not necessarily mean disbelief, but hesitation, wavering between certainty and uncertainty. These were not outsiders; these were disciples. They had walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, heard His teachings and yet, in the presence of the resurrected Christ, they still wrestled internally.

On the mountain in Galilee, the disciples encounter the risen Jesus. The text does not sanitize their response. This text reminds us: faith is not the absence of doubt; it is the decision to worship in the midst of it. The text tells the truth: they worshiped… but some doubted.

This is the mix.

These were not strangers to Jesus. They were followers. Yet even in resurrection reality, they wrestled. However, Jesus receives their worship and gives them assignment. Their doubt did not disqualify them from divine purpose.

The mix did not cancel their calling. Jesus showed up and commissioned them!

We often pray: “Lord, show up!” or “Lord, make a way!” or “Lord, fix it!” But when Jesus shows up, sometimes it doesn’t look like what we expected or imagined.

• You prayed for change, but it came through disruption.
• You prayed for peace, but first came confrontation.
• You prayed for clarity, but got a process instead.

And so, we find ourselves worshiping but wondering, praising but processing, believing but battling questions.

That’s the mix.

Sometimes the answer to your prayer is standing right in front of you but you’re still asking God if God heard you. Faith is not always clean, neat, and certain. Sometimes, it is layered.

Let’s Act: Embrace the Mix

1. Pray even with your questions:  You don’t have to wait until doubt disappears to talk to God.

2. Check your expectations: Ask yourself: Am I looking for God or am I looking for MY version of God’s answer?

3. Recognize Jesus when He shows up: He may not come how you planned but He always comes with purpose.

4. Worship in the tension: Worship says: God, I trust You even while I’m still trying to figure this out.

Let’s Reflect: 

• Where am I experiencing “the mix” right now, faith and doubt at the same time?

• Have I missed an answered prayer because it didn’t meet my expectation?
• Can I choose to worship even while I’m still waiting for clarity?

Faith and doubt can sit in the same space but don’t let doubt have the final say. Jesus is in the mix.

Let’s Pray:

God of grace and truth, Thank You for meeting us in the mix where faith and doubt live side by side. Forgive us for the times we missed You because we were looking for something else. Open our eyes to recognize Your presence even when it looks unfamiliar.

Strengthen our faith where it is weak. Steady our hearts where they waver. And teach us to worship You not just in certainty, but in uncertainty.

Lord, reshape our expectations so that we seek You more than outcomes. Help us to trust that if You showed up, it is already an answer. Therefore, we choose to worship you for who you are and believe that you will do just what you said in your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trusting & Believing,

Rev. Sondrea L. Tolbert, J.D., M.Div.

Executive Director & CEO