Help for my unbelief
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
Jesus had just come down from the mountain after being transfigured before Peter, James and John. He met the disciples who were having trouble ministering to a young demon possessed boy. Jesus begins to talk to the boy’s father asking him about his son’s condition. The father finally replies with, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus responds, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” And the father says, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
Jesus doesn’t seem to like the father’s “…if you can…”. It is an “eyes of sight” response. The disciples had failed to help his demon possessed son. His hope was fading and his doubt was rising. It is only natural when you have tried everything and nothing seems to be working. But it is still an eyes of sight response.
Eyes of faith would see that Jesus is now here. Eyes of faith would know that he is in the presence of the One who CAN! The father’s eyes of faith response would have been, “If you are willing, take pity on us and help us.” Eyes of faith cannot and will not ever underestimate the power of God. The beauty of this exchange between the father and Jesus is that Jesus ministers to the father where he is (broken and doubting) and raises his faith eyes and breaks his doubt. Listen to the man’s response, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
God knows you believe in Him. He knows that you struggle, like the father, walking by sight instead of by faith. It is hard not to doubt sometimes. He wants to help us in our areas of unbelief and doubt. Yes, even as believers, we have areas of our walk with Christ that are marred by doubt. Our cry needs to be the same as the father’s. We need to pray, “Jesus, You know I believe; help me overcome my unbelief.
May Jesus be the One we always turn to…even when we are doubting. He can help us OVERCOME our unbelief.
Peace!
Tom
Jesus had just come down from the mountain after being transfigured before Peter, James and John. He met the disciples who were having trouble ministering to a young demon possessed boy. Jesus begins to talk to the boy’s father asking him about his son’s condition. The father finally replies with, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus responds, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” And the father says, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
Jesus doesn’t seem to like the father’s “…if you can…”. It is an “eyes of sight” response. The disciples had failed to help his demon possessed son. His hope was fading and his doubt was rising. It is only natural when you have tried everything and nothing seems to be working. But it is still an eyes of sight response.
Eyes of faith would see that Jesus is now here. Eyes of faith would know that he is in the presence of the One who CAN! The father’s eyes of faith response would have been, “If you are willing, take pity on us and help us.” Eyes of faith cannot and will not ever underestimate the power of God. The beauty of this exchange between the father and Jesus is that Jesus ministers to the father where he is (broken and doubting) and raises his faith eyes and breaks his doubt. Listen to the man’s response, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
God knows you believe in Him. He knows that you struggle, like the father, walking by sight instead of by faith. It is hard not to doubt sometimes. He wants to help us in our areas of unbelief and doubt. Yes, even as believers, we have areas of our walk with Christ that are marred by doubt. Our cry needs to be the same as the father’s. We need to pray, “Jesus, You know I believe; help me overcome my unbelief.
May Jesus be the One we always turn to…even when we are doubting. He can help us OVERCOME our unbelief.
Peace!
Tom
