I Believe, but Help My Unbelief

Scripture 

Mark 9:23-24 NLT [22]…”Have mercy on us and help us if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” [24] The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Let’s Break it Down

Have you ever faced a situation so hard it felt like you would never make it out? Like, having hope was a waste of time, and believing was just discouraging because you never see any real change. I think we have all faced situations where we were hopeful for change but still unsure whether we could achieve a positive outcome. 

Here in the scripture, we have a father who is desperately looking for someone to help bring healing/ deliverance to his child. Since the child was little, he had been inflicting pain on himself to the point of death. The father has done everything in his own power to help his child, but he has never seen any results. I’m sure he was exhausted. He went to Jesus’ disciples, but they couldn’t help him either. So when he finally gets to Jesus, he has already experienced so much disappointment and defeat, yet still he postures his heart to ask Jesus for help, because there’s still something in him that believes his child can be healed and set free. He says, “Help my unbelief,” because every time he moved in faith, nothing happened, but he’s hoping Jesus can change that once and for all.

How This Applies to You

There’s nothing God can’t do, but because we are humans and flesh often tries to dominate, what we see can often seem like it’s set in stone. Hope can seem useless, and having faith can make you feel delusional. But if we truly understood who Jesus is and the power he possesses, we wouldn’t ask if he can help; we would say, Lord, I know you can, so can you help me?!

This scripture is a true depiction of who we are as people. We believe, but what’s in front of us keeps telling us to give up. Maybe you have said, I believe, but help my unbelief because you keep running into the same situations. You try to do the right things, but it seems like you’re struggling through. You’ve tried everything in your own power, but nothing truly brings fulfillment. The first step is to keep believing that your life can change, that where you are now is not always where you’ll be. That you are not failing; you are just learning the more you live life, and that you must give yourself grace because it’s impossible to know it all with no one guiding the way.

Next, some problems can’t be taken to people; sometimes, they just don’t have the capacity to pull you out of your situation because they don’t have faith that their own situation can change. God specializes in the impossible. The scripture says, “What’s impossible for men is only possible with God” (Luke 18:27). This means you must get a different perspective and seek God for answers. The power of life and death is in your tongue (Proverbs 18:21), so you must be mindful of what you speak about yourself and your situation; only speak life. Finally, you have to believe even when it hurts, even when it feels pointless; you must keep believing! If the father had given up, he would’ve never run into Jesus, the answer to all his problems, and his son would’ve never been healed. He didn’t deny his unbelief, and Jesus wasn’t offended because he understood.

Prayer

Father God, I thank you for always being good, even when we are not faithful and don’t fully believe. God, there are things in my friend’s life that make it hard for them to believe change can happen for them. They have fought battles in their own strength and have only achieved temporary victories. But they are ready for more. Lord, we know that true victory is in Christ and that there is nothing too hard for you and nothing is impossible once you’re involved. Revive their faith today, help them know you are real and that you answer those who call on you. I pray that every area of unbelief in their life be revealed and addressed by you, so that they won’t be hindered from moving forward. Fill them with your confidence and help them push past unbelief in this season of their lives. Give them the strength to stand in the midst of adversity. Lord, you have a future and a hope for them, so their lives have meaning, and you have given them purpose. Help them discover their true purpose as they come closer to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen  

Questions for the week

(Grab a notebook and dedicate it to these weekly devotions, and comment below if you like)

1. What’s one thing in your life that seems like it will never change no matter what you do? (Health, emotions, children, finances, relationship, etc.)
2. Have you given up on finding a solution? Why or why not?
3. Jesus wants to address your unbelief. If you had to bring that one unchanging thing to the Lord, what would you say to him?
4. Now that you have had the courage to say it, do you believe he will change it for you?
5. The scripture says the power of life and death is in YOUR tongue. What will you begin speaking into your life so you can see the change you want?

Come back next Sunday for the new weekly devotion! Please like this post if you were encouraged. See you then!

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