Faith

Years ago, a song came out, and the chorus was, “just gotta have faith.” Faith is a topic that many struggle to understand. What is faith exactly? Is it something like crossing our fingers and hoping for the best? No, true faith is much more and extremely powerful. The Bible tells us that without faith we cannot please the Lord. We are also told that if we have the faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Then, on the other hand, our lack of faith can keep us from experiencing many things the Lord would like to do in us and through us.

We see a powerful example of this in Mark 9. In verse 14, Jesus has returned with Peter, James, and John from the mount of transfiguration to join up with the rest of His disciples. When He gets there, He sees quite the uproar going on. A man had brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples, and they tried to cast it out but could not. As this desperate father comes to Jesus, he explains that this demon has possessed his son since birth and has made him deaf and mute and has often tried to kill the boy by throwing him into water and into fire. The man then makes this plea at the end of verse 22, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” This is a good question, if it were asked of anyone besides Jesus. Listen to Jesus’ reply in verse 23, “And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

In this response, Jesus is challenging the man to not look at the circumstances that surround him, but to cast his eyes and hope upon the One who can bring the answer. I want us to focus on the man’s reply in verse 24, “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, 'I do believe; help my unbelief.” Oh, the honesty of a desperate man who needs a miracle. He, like many of us want to believe that Jesus can do what he is desperate for, but in the back of his mind, he is just not sure it can be done. The father explains to Jesus that he desperately wants to believe, but he needs help with his unbelief. Isn’t that us many times? We truly desire to have that faith that can move mountains; we want to have the faith that the Lord can meet all our needs, but we still just have those doubts that shipwreck our faith.

Jesus says too bad, that just isn’t enough faith for Me to do what you need. NO, in fact, it is the exact opposite. Jesus honors the man’s honesty and his desire to have the faith to believe. Jesus then looks at the boy and removes the evil spirit from the man’s son. This should bring great hope and encouragement to us all. We do not always have the faith we should. Jesus knows that, but if we cry out to the Lord for the faith we need, crying out, asking for forgiveness for our unbelief, our Savior honors that honesty and the plea for a great faith so that we can honor Him. So, the next time we run into a circumstance where we are desperate for a touch from Jesus, be honest and tell Him, I do believe, help my unbelief. Don’t let the seeds of disbelief keep you from seeing your Lord work that miracle you need.