Help My Unbelief!

Have you ever wondered about the miracles of Jesus, really pondered the miracles?

I’m not talking about occurrences in our day that people sometimes claim to be miracles. (Birth is not a miracle; it is the natural way that God created for mankind to reproduce. Extraordinary, but not a miracle. Other modern miracles fit into this same category.) I am talking about the laws of nature being suspended so that something that simply cannot happen, does happen.

Extraordinary would be setting a world record for the largest pumpkin ever grown. Yet, planting a seed one day and then harvesting from the same plant the next day...miracle. Extraordinary events seem impossible; miracles are impossible in nature. Miracles indicate the presence of the divine.

The miracles that Jesus performed were a testimony to His true identity. The Old Testament prophets told of the Messiah who would perform miracles. Jesus did. He was the Messiah.

News of Jesus, the miracle-worker from Galilee, spread throughout the land. People did whatever they had to do in order to find Jesus so that he could heal them or heal a loved one.

On one occasion a man approached Jesus asking Him to heal his demon-possessed son. He had asked Jesus’ disciples, but they could not help. Jesus asked the gathering crowd what was going on. The man stepped forward and explained about his son. Jesus did not heal the son, not immediately. He told the man to bring his son to Him and the demon threw the boy into convulsions. Jesus did not heal the son, not immediately. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long that had been happening. The man responded and Jesus still did not heal the boy, not yet.

The man said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

Jesus responded, “’If you can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

The boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

Jesus then healed the boy. 

(See Mark 9.)

I think that describes us at times. We believe, truly believe, yet God’s word flies against the conventional wisdom of our day. It contradicts things we have been taught: perhaps even things taught by our parents or other respected individuals. We believe God and trust His word; we know we should. Yet, sometimes it is really difficult to believe. We might even hear our hearts cry out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

In the miracle of the healing of the demon-possessed boy, there are two important elements that should encourage us.

First, Jesus did not get in a hurry to heal the boy. I don’t know why, but it does tell me that Jesus will not become frantic just because you are frantic. Jesus understands your pain and He knows whether the situation is urgent or not. When we pray to God and do not get an immediate answer, we should not panic. The way that God assists us may not be on our personal timetable. So, we should resolve to be content and be patient regardless of the circumstances.

Second, although the father sensed his own unbelief, he had some level of faith. The man’s request that started, “If you can…” was not a picture of confident faith like some. Yet, he had the faith to bring his boy to Jesus, and Jesus was patient. So, even if our faith is weak, we must turn to Jesus. He will be patient with our weaknesses. He IS our hope.

Mark Stinnett

April 10, 2022