Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?”
The father answered, “Since he was very young. The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything for him, please have pity on us and help us.”
Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”
Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!” Mark 9:21-24 NCV
Doubt is not an absence of faith. Doubt is only possible if you believe. Unbelief is a willing choice to not believe. Doubt is inner uncertainty, questioning, and lack of understanding. A desperate father was caught in that place. Because of his interaction with Jesus, he became a well-known doubter. This man’s much-loved son was possessed by an evil spirit bent on destroying him. He kept him from talking. When the spirit actively attacked, he threw the boy to the ground, even into fire or water. He ground his teeth and foamed at the mouth. The father brought him to Jesus to be healed. That in itself showed tremendous faith. He was placing faith in someone the religious leaders maligned and disrespected. He was at his wits end. His love for his boy, completely robbed of a normal life, motivated him to bring him to Jesus.
As soon as they came within sight of Jesus, the evil spirit began to terrorize the young man. He rolled his eyes backward and fell to the ground, twisting and turning, mouth foaming. Jesus said to the father, “How long has this been happening?”
The father urgently pleaded, “Since he was very young – If you can do anything for him, please help us!”
Can’t you see Jesus answering with an assuring smile, “If I can? If I can? Of course I can! All things are possible for the one who believes.”
The man’s honest heart burst out, “I DO believe – but help me believe more!” What the man was really saying was, “I’m somewhere between complete belief and not believing at all. I really need your help.” Then Jesus responded in love and healed the boy.
If we’re honest, doesn’t that describe most of us at some point? The best place to start is to do just what this father did – tell Jesus that you want to believe but you’re having doubts. Ask Him to meet your needs. Have the courage to own your doubts and trust the Jesus who loves believing doubters. Talk to Him and read the Gospels. Seeing the Jesus you love and trust in action will revive your heart. Truth has a way of chasing doubts way.
- If you haven’t started watching THE CHOSEN, start. Your faith will grow!