First, you stop calling, then you avoid making eye contact. Conversation becomes an effort and when spoken to, the answers become brief, using as few words as possible, or better yet, one-word replies. Communication breaks down, and eventually the relationship is over.

Why do we isolate ourselves at times? Cutting ourselves off from church, other believers, even the Lord Himself. After the fall, and Adam and Eve’s sin, they made clothing out of fig leaves to cover themselves. It was a feeble attempt to hide their nakedness from each other and from God.

The circumstances that lead to our own hiding can vary. It is easy for a relationship’s warmth to quickly die to a chill. It is so much harder to tend a fire than to neglect one.

If you remember, after the betrayal, arrest, crucifixion and death of their Lord, the disciples were shattered. Shell shocked, they thought they might be the next victims, so they ran away in fear.

Nevertheless, that Sunday night, they gathered together in a house somewhere in Jerusalem and bolted the door shut.  For all their blunders and thick headedness, they did one thing right: they stuck together.

Amazingly, the zealot, the tax collector, the fishermen, this diverse motley crew, had become a band of brothers.  It was commendable that when their world fell apart, and their lives seemed over, they held on to one another. All of them, that is except Thomas.

Thomas did the opposite; he isolated himself. Proverbs 18:1 tells us, “A man who isolates himself, seeks his own desire and rages against wise judgment.”

It was while they were together that Jesus showed up. “Peace,” He said. He showed them His hands and feet.  Instantly, unbelief and confusion evaporated like a morning mist.

For Thomas, though, it took eight days longer. Eight unnecessary, long, painful days. He must have felt like the odd man out. The others believed, but he flatly stated, “Unless I see for myself, I will never believe.”

I find it significant that he had seven days alone . . . to think it over . . . and he still didn’t believe. It may do us all some good to reflect on the fact that it was when he returned to his brothers that the Lord appeared to him.

And when He did appear, it took no time at all for Thomas to make the greatest declaration of faith in the entire Gospel of John, “My Lord, and my God!”

Gathered with His people, in a community of faith, Jesus says, “He will be in our midst.” I like what Warren Weirsbe said, “Remember Thomas when you are tempted to stay home from church.” What better place to be when we feel alone, fearful, discouraged or confused?