Mark 9:24
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
This is the story of a man who is bereaved and desperate. He’d come to the end of his rope. All other choices appear to have failed him, so he resorted to Jesus as a last resort. If Jesus had failed him, there would have been no hope for him. He had faith in Jesus’ ability to help him, but he wrestled with that faith. This father was a highly conflicted man who believed in Jesus but doubted his competence because of the disciples’ experience. Confidence and optimism had been squeezed out of him over time due to various frustrations and disappointments, and while he still had some faith, it was frail and almost non-existent.
Help Our Unbelief
And as he fell at Jesus’ feet in need, he cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Faith is not easy. Many of us will believe that God can heal the common cold but struggle with the thought of God healing cancer. It seems that certain things are too big for God to heal. Let us look at the significance of personal faith. Faith is the evidence for things not seen, and the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). This strong belief quantifies the answers to prayers even before the prayer is made. It is the belief that God can accomplish things that appear most difficult with infinite ease, just like he did with the withered fig tree (Mark 11:20).
The disciples left in the camp could not cast out the demon. And by the time Jesus met up with them and the crowd, they were arguing with the scribes. The main issue of contention was the boy who the father brought. The most probable cause of the scuffle was why they were unable to cast the demon out. This squeezed out the confidence of the father that he would get help. The disciples failed to understand that in the same way that Jesus could forgive sins and do miracles, he could increase their faith (Luke 17:5). True faith in Jesus, no matter how small, is effective and able to get results.
Just Believe
The illustration Jesus gives on the size of faith needed is that of a mustard seed. Jesus taught that faith of this tiny size can uproot deep-rooted trees and mountains. When we pray and believe and the answer is delayed, it is not evidence that God is not interested. Daniel had started a fast to pray and seek the Lord. It seemed as if the Lord was taking so long to answer his prayers, but the bible lets us know that his answer was released the moment he set his mind to pray (Daniel 10:12-13).
Brethren, whatever we ask of the Lord in prayer, we receive through faith until it fully manifests. This is the faith that focuses on His faithfulness and His size and less of our shortcomings. With faith, there is nothing out of reach. It is time to fall on Jesus’ feet and cry out like the father of the boy.
King James Version (KJV)
“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
New International Version (NIV)
“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!'”
New American Bible (NASB)
“Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief!'”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!'”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“The father instantly replied, ‘I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!’“