“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Mark 9:24
Knowing God’s promises in our head can be very different than applying them in our heart, particularly when we are under duress. Since my stroke several years ago, the burden of setbacks and disappointments has uncovered the weakness of my faith.
In Mark 9 a father brought his son to Jesus because his son had an evil spirit which made him mute, threw him to the ground, and even thrust him into fire and water to destroy him. The desperate father asked Jesus’ disciples to heal the boy, but they could not. After describing his son’s condition to Jesus, he said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (v. 22). You can almost hear Jesus’ reply, . .If you can’? Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Evident in that father were both the greatness of his faith (bringing the boy to Jesus) and the weakness of his faith (admitting his unbelief). For those of us seeking deeply to trust God while also experiencing the weakness of our faith, we can pray like the distressed father, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
In Mark 9 a father brought his son to Jesus because his son had an evil spirit which made him mute, threw him to the ground, and even thrust him into fire and water to destroy him. The desperate father asked Jesus’ disciples to heal the boy, but they could not. After describing his son’s condition to Jesus, he said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (v. 22). You can almost hear Jesus’ reply, . .If you can’? Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Evident in that father were both the greatness of his faith (bringing the boy to Jesus) and the weakness of his faith (admitting his unbelief). For those of us seeking deeply to trust God while also experiencing the weakness of our faith, we can pray like the distressed father, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Scripture Focus
Mark 9:14-29
Insight
When our trust in God wanes, we can pray that God will remind us of His promises and help us to trust those promises.
Bible In A Year
- 1 Samuel 11-12
- Psalm 125
- 2 Corinthians 4-5
