June 5, 2022

Mark 9: 24 (NIV)

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

. . .that strange mix of vulnerability, courage and hope the Bible calls faith.*

We can relate to the anguished cry of this father whose son is possessed by an evil spirit. He wants to believe that Jesus can deliver the boy from his affliction but what hope is there? Even if he could believe that Jesus was able to help him, why should he expect him that he would? Whose faith is as strong as it ought to be? We all have doubts and weaknesses. Jesus told the man that everything is possible for him who believes. Do we really believe that? 

Maybe we should ask ourselves what we don’t believe. First, let’s eliminate the silly and frivolous – Jesus is not a genie in a lamp to grant our wishes for riches, and nothing in his life or words indicates that we should expect him to be – so of course we don’t believe in a fairytale version of Jesus. So what are some real-life expectations that we think Jesus might not live up to? 

· Physical healing for ourselves or a loved one. 

· Forgiveness of some heinous sin in our past. 

· Finding our soulmate. 

· Delivering a loved one from a destructive lifestyle. 

· Peace on earth. 

As we look at this list again, let’s ask ourselves: Do we really believe that Jesus can’t do these things – or that he won’t? When I cry out to God to help me overcome my unbelief, I am not asking him to prove what he is able to do; I am asking for the strength to be obedient and remain faithful even when he denies my requests. While that is not the comforting thought we might be hoping for, the comfort comes when we have learned to walk in faith and obedience even when our wishes don’t come true.

Life has many unanswered questions, but God’s ability to save needn’t be one of them. Be settled about God’s faithfulness.*