«The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’ » (Mark 9:24, NLT).
When the father brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples, he risked experiencing another disappointment. Believing always implies running a risk, and his case was extremely difficult. Jewish exorcists in Jesus’s days believed that in order to cast a demon out, they first needed to know its name. According to culture in those days, naming something granted power over what was named. However, the father knew his son had a mute spirit. It prevented exorcists from finding out the demon’s name and casting it out. Nevertheless, he brought his son to the disciples, but they were unable to help him. Who knows how many preachers and exorcists he had turned to before, trying to help his son who had been suffering since childhood?
By the time Jesus arrived at the scene, after having been on the Mount of Transfiguration, the father’s faith had been brutally thrashed. He had brought his son, begged, believed, and all, in vain. Seeing the Master, he said, «Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.» Jesus answered, «What do you mean, ‘If I can’? Anything is possible if a person believes.» Immediately, without wasting a second, without hiding his unbelief, the father exclaimed, «l do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!» (Mark 9:22-24 NLT).
Sometimes we think that, in order to please God, we need to hide our doubts. But God, who reads each one of our thoughts, He knows exactly how we feel. He is not surprised by our doubts! In Designed for Devotion, Dianne Neal Matthews ponders, «While we live our earthly life, our faith will always be mixed with times of questioning and uncertainty. If we try to ignore those feelings, they can become a barrier. . . . We can become paralyzed by guilt over our imperfect faith. God wants us to bring our doubts and questions to Him. . . . We may not understand everything that we want to, but wrestling with our doubts can make our faith grow.»
The father could have become offended, he could have been too proud to admit his doubt, or too hurt to risk believing again. However, with imperfect faith he cried out to the Master: «l do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!» and His prayer was not rejected.
I do believe, Lord Jesus, but please help me to overcome my unbelief.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.
