Faith To Believe The Impossible

I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!

Mark 9:24

IN MARK 9:14-29, there’s a story about a father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, looking for a miracle. The disciples had already tried (and failed) to cast out the demon from the boy. The man was desperate. His son was so completely controlled by this demon that he would sometimes throw himself into fire or water, apparently trying to kill himself.

After explaining the situation to Jesus, the man said, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can” (Mark 9:22). To this Jesus replied, “What do you mean, ‘If I can’? . . . Anything is possible if a person believes” (Mark 9:23). And then came the man’s well-known response: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Most of us can relate to this man, at least some of the time. It’s not easy to believe things that seem impossible to us.

Try to imagine Jesus’ tone when He said to the man, “If I can?” Though we know that Jesus wouldn’t mock the man’s faith, it’s easy to imagine Him challenging the man to think more carefully about the one to whom he was making his request. Yes, the request seemed impossible to the man, and yet Jesus seemed to specialize in making the impossible possible, which was no doubt why the man came to Him in the first place. Remember that what can seem impossible to us isn’t impossible to Jesus, and pray accordingly.

BOTTOM LINE

It’s a challenge to believe God’s promises when things aren’t looking good. Thankfully, God patiently works with the amount of faith we have.

Moment of Strength: Mark 9:14-29