All the Christmas movies–from the classic “Miracle on 34th Street” to “The Year Without a Santa Claus” preach a common message: faith is about believing without seeing.

In our family favorite, “Elf,” Santa’s sleigh, fueled by Christmas spirit, crashes into Central Park in New York City. In order to convince people to believe in Santa, young Michael (Daniel Tay) steals Santa’s logbook of Christmas wishes to show a news reporter.

“People believing after they’ve seen proof of me doesn’t count,” Santa explains. “Christmas spirit is about believing without seeing.”

Faith in Jesus operates the same way. In fact, the risen Christ tells Thomas the Twin (1 Peter 1:3-9) pretty much the same thing Santa told Michael: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

As a depressive, I have to believe. Even when I don’t see. When, like Thomas, I stretch out my hand to touch the side of Jesus but all I feel is more pain. I go on believing. Because my life depends on it.