The If Factor
Mark 9:24 (NIV) “The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Have you ever had an emotional experience with the Lord, only to encounter the reality of the world soon after? Unfortunately, heavenly experiences don’t hold off earthly complications.
Jesus, after being on a mountain retreat with Peter, James and John where He was transfigured, happens upon an argument between teachers and the disciples who didn’t go on the trip up the mountain. The source of contention: a demon-possessed boy.
Jesus didn’t seem too rattled by situation, calmly asking, “What are you arguing with them about?” (Mark 9:16) I love the way Bible commenter Campbell Morgan describes the situation, “He found disputing scribes, a distracted father, a demon-possessed boy, and defeated disciples … He silenced the scribes, He comforted the father, He healed the boy, He instructed the disciples.”
A father brought his demon-possessed son for healing, Jesus was gone and the disciples were unable to call the out the demons. The teachers couldn’t understand why Jesus’ disciples could not rid the boy of the demons, even though Jesus had given them power to remove unclean spirits. (Mark 6:7) Jesus rebuked the unbelieving crowd, then asked for the boy to be brought to him.
In this day there was a common belief among Jewish exorcists that unless you knew the name of the demon, it could not be removed. The boy was mute, so the name of the demon had never been heard. This seemed like an impossible situation, but nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
The father explained the boys’ history to Jesus, and said, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22b). Hanging in the air, the huge, but short two-letter word: if.
If was in regard to the father’s own faith, not Jesus ability to heal. The father believed Jesus could heal, but also in the moment recognized his own doubts. “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24)
The father had faith, but also doubts. I love the boy’s miraculous healing, but perhaps what I love the most about this story is permission to take our “ifs” to God. Our “ifs” don’t mean we aren’t saved, or that we don’t believe God is capable of doing the impossible. This man believed, and had doubts and that was OK with Jesus, because Jesus knew his heart. Charles Spurgeon says this, “While men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief.”
Oh friend, we have a Savior who knows and loves us. Are you harboring any doubts today? He can handle them. Cry out to Jesus with the same words as this father, “‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24) Nothing can separate you for His love, not even “if.”
Prayer:
Dear Father, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! I am so grateful that nothing can separate me from Your love. My heart longs to live with confident faith ¾ doubt free. Thank You for being patient and kind. I love You so, and want to love You more. In Jesus’ name, amen
My Power:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
My Moment:
Do I have a root of unbelief?