Help My Unbelief
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
“How long has this been happening?”Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:17-24 NLT
Insight
Lately, my faith in the Lord has been… paradoxical. My confidence in Him has been simultaneously resolute and non-existent.
I believe that my God has the ability to walk on water and calm storms by speaking a single word. I believe that my Heavenly Father is a miracle worker, a great healer, and a victorious king. I believe that He’s defeated the power of death and darkness for all eternity. I believe in a God that possesses boundless strength and ultimate authority over all things. I believe these truths. I strive daily to build my life and identity around these Truths.
And yet, I don’t believe God can heal me. Though I believe that He can heal, redeem, and restore others, I regularly buy into the lie that my struggles are too big for Him. It is truly nonsensical. I believe that nothing is too difficult for my God. At the same time, I think it’s impossible for Him to change my unrepentant heart and restore my health. I believe in His limitless power… until I’m asked to trust in it in my own life.
I think all Christ-followers experience this disorienting phenomenon at one point or another. Though we know who our God is and what He is capable of, we all eventually face something that we think is beyond God’s power to touch and transform.
In this season of life, I’ve been learning that God wants us to bring everything to His feet—including our unbelief. He already knows our hearts and innermost thoughts (Psalm 139:1-4). He isn’t surprised when we struggle to trust in His power and goodness. In fact, He expects us to. Our God had a human experience Himself. He understands firsthand how difficult it is to grapple with the big, seemingly fantastical promises He makes (Hebrews 4:15). God even chose to name us Israel (Genesis 35:10-11), which translates to “one who wrestles with God.”
God sees what little faith we have, and He celebrates it. He sees our lack of faith, and He has compassion toward it.
We can acknowledge our unbelief boldly before Him. And once we do, we can—and should—ask Him to rid us of our unbelief and increase our faith. God hears our prayers. He wants to grow our faith. It pleases Him greatly when we ask for more.
It is uncomfortable, to be honest before God. However, we can’t let our unbelief linger without bringing it into the light. We have to confront it head-on and examine it in the context of the Truths we’ve been given.
In Mark 19, we are given reassurance that God is more than able to heal us and those we love, even when our unbelief persists. The great hope we have in Jesus is this: even while our trust wavers, His power remains. Our confidence in His strength has no bearing on the reality of His strength. Although our faith fluctuates, His faithfulness is steadfast and constant.
Reflection
Is there a part of your life where your trust in God’s power begins to break down? Are you willing to pray for more faith?
Do you bring your unbelief honestly before God? If not, what holds you back from doing so?
Prayer
Father God, thank you for being who You are. Thank you for being a sovereign, all-powerful, gracious God. Increase my faith in what You can do. Remind me that Your strength is truly limitless. Help my unbelief. Give me renewed confidence in You in every area of my life. Remind me that You can do the impossible. You can do what I doubt You can do. Lord, forgive me for underestimating You and struggling to believe that You have the ultimate authority that I know You possess. Thank you for being bigger than my doubts, fears, and struggles. I love You. Thank you for saving my soul and giving me new mercies every morning. Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.