Need Faith? - Jesus And The Desperate Father

“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 9:23-24

Standing outside his burning house, a man looked up in horror to see his son standing on the roof, waiting for help. Knowing he had little time to rescue his son, the man stretched out his arms and called, “Jump! I’ll catch you.”

The boy knew that he had to get out of the house and that the only way to do it was to jump. But all he could see, other than the dark night, were the flames and billowing smoke. He was too afraid to jump.

“I can’t jump,” the boy protested. “I can’t see you.”

“But I can see you,” the dad called back, “and that’s all that matters.”

At times, we need some assurance before we can take a leap of faith. The unnamed father of a demon-possessed boy needed that kind of assurance. He had already seen Jesus’ disciples fail miserably at casting out the evil spirit that had tormented his son for most of his life. Now he wondered if the Master could do anything for him.

“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can,” he begged Jesus.

Jesus fully intended to heal the boy, but first he dealt with the man’s doubts. “Anything is possible if a person believes,” he told him, intending to build the man’s faith.

This desperate father had no doubt heard about Jesus and the amazing miracles he had performed, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to fully believe that Jesus could do what others had tried and failed to do.

“I do believe,” he told Jesus, “but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Though this man may not have had enough faith to completely believe Jesus could help him, he had more than enough faith to go to the One who generously gives the faith we need to see a miracle.

If you want God to do great things in your life, you will need faith. During times of doubt, when you wonder if he really can do anything to help you, don’t be afraid to ask God to assure you and strengthen your faith. He is more than willing to do that!