“Jesus said to him, “‘Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out,
“I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:23-24 (NAB)
Faith is knowing that everything is in God’s hands, and even when things seem to be getting worse, and our faith is weakening, it’s okay to come honestly to Jesus and say,
“Lord, help me in my unbelief.”
Those were the words of the father of a demon possessed boy. He barely had faith to believe that his son could be delivered, but He came to the right person. Every miracle begins by coming to Jesus, even when our faith is weak.
When the father of that boy heard Jesus say, “anything is possible to the one who has faith”, he figured that excluded him. He had very little hope, but he had a whole lot of honesty, when he said to Jesus, “Help me in my unbelief.”
It’s easy to get the impression that Jesus only responds to people of great faith. He praised the Centurion who said “Only say the word, Lord.” He was impressed by the woman who said “If I can just touch the fringe of His garment.” He shared the example of the gentile woman who humbly persisted in faith, saying, “Even a dog can receive the crumbs that fall from the table”.
There’s no doubt that God responds to great faith, but He also responds to great honesty. Jesus was touched by that desperate father’s honest plea, “Help me in my unbelief, Lord.” God desires an intimate relationship with us, and intimacy requires honesty. Scripture shows us that God loves a heart open to Him in truthfulness.
Jesus wanted to help those who were struggling to believe that He had truly risen on that third day. He made an effort to convince His disciples that He was risen in body, and wasn’t merely a ghost or a spirit. He removed their doubts, by asking for something to eat, and eating food in front of them. Then He showed them His scars and His wounded side.
Jesus went as far as to offer all of the disciples, not just Thomas, to touch Him and feel His scars, saying,
“It is I, myself. Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
(Luke 24:39)
God is patient with everyone who is struggling to believe for something. He was patient with the father in this story, He was patient with His disciples, and He is also patient with us today. He doesn’t expect us to fake it, and pretend we believe, or to give up and profess unbelief.
We learn from the father in this story that there is a third option, to ask Jesus to help us in our unbelief.
I don’t always feel a confident assurance when I pray for my son, Jon. Almost every day I ask Jesus to help me in my unbelief, and He is still extending His nail scarred feet and hands towards me, inviting me to touch Him, and go a little deeper in believing. I have learned that He won’t scoff at the areas where we are weak and set back with doubts.
As we remember His unconditional, relentless love for humanity, and all the various levels of faith among His believers, we can still almost hear Him saying to us today,
“Touch Me and see how much I love you.”
Lord, whatever level our faith is at, help us to remain intimate and honest with you, as you help us in our times of unbelief. As we touch you by faith, draw us closer in our devotion to you. Amen
