"I Believe. Help My Unbelief!"

by Darla Noble

Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:22-24

“I believe. Help my unbelief!”

So which is it? Does he believe or doesn’t he?

It’s both. The man believes Jesus can, but he’s a little shaky or unsure as to whether or not Jesus will.

Have you ever felt like that? Or maybe the better question would be: when is the last time you felt like that? Don’t worry—it’s okay to admit it. God knows our hearts. He knows we struggle with faith at times…that it’s a process. He’s okay with that as long as you are like the man in this story by calling on Jesus to increase your faith.

Growing your faith is like opening a gift…

Let’s say someone gives you a gift wrapped in beautiful paper. You undo the paper to reveal a box from your favorite store. Seeing the store’s name and logo on the box you get even more excited. Anything from there is something you are sure to enjoy! But what if the gift isn’t from there? What if the person giving you the gift just used a box they had from the store to put your gift in? Anxiously and nervously you lift the lid; hoping it’s from the store, but knowing it might not be.

When you put your faith in God you never have to wonder. You never have to be anxious or nervous because God never disappoints. He never uses a box from one store to put a gift from another store in. He is true. He is trustworthy. He does what He says He will do and is who He says He is and that will never change. He is always ready to help your unbelief.