Help my unbelief
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
Yesterday, I was believing God for some specific things for my day. Things concerning my job. When I got to work, it didn’t look like things were headed in the direction that I had asked God about. But, I maintained my attitude and kept believing that God was with me and things would work out ok despite my disappointment. At one point I remember specifically thinking, “Can I be “in faith” and disappointed at the same time?” I just kept the matter before the Lord every time the feelings of disappointment would come. Surprisingly, in an instant, God turned everything around and the situation I was disappointed about was turned back the other way. Then it happened two more times during the day where things were not going in the direction I had hoped, but just at the right time, God turned it all around. I just kept these matters before Him and continued thanking Him despite the outward circumstances. He is so faithful!
This reminds me of the verse in Ephesians 4:26 that says, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” I have always wondered how this is accomplished. How can I be angry and not sin? After my experience yesterday, I was reminded that even when circumstances don’t look like they are going well and amid disappointments and even angry feelings, I can still maintain my faith by keeping the matter in God’s hands and thanking Him for working things out. Then I don’t grumble and complain and talk to others about how bad the situation is because things aren’t going my way. I rejoice instead because God’s got this.
In today’s scripture, we see a man that took his son to Jesus to be healed. When Jesus wasn’t available, the other disciples tried to heal his son, but were not successful. The man didn’t give up and he didn’t get angry. I’m sure he was disappointed that it didn’t look good at first, but he waited on Jesus. When Jesus got there, He told the man to believe, and all things would be possible. The man immediately recognized that he did believe, but he also had unbelief in him. This is the point where there is an opportunity to waver. When things don’t look like they are going to change or work out, the appearance of the situation can cause us to give up. However, if we cling to our belief in God, His ability, and thank Him for working on the issue, that will open the door for Him to come in and answer the prayer.
Today I want to encourage you to hold fast to your faith in God. Don’t give up on the things you are believing Him to do in your life. Even though it may have been a long time and things don’t look any better or may even look worse than when you started believing, it is never too late for God! Maintain your best attitude, be thankful, and watch as the door opens to allow the Holy Spirit to come in and answer your requests.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 9:14-29
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.
15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22 And often he has thrown 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.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”
26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
The Daily Dose 