My friend recently shared that she was tasked with waking her three-year-old nephew from his nap the other day. When she woke him up, she said, “Are you ready to wake up?” Immediately and out of the blue, he said, “How do whales sleep?” No one asks more questions than kids, do they? While we adults do not ask as many questions as children, we still have questions, especially about the difficulties and trials we face. The truth is, we may not have all of the answers to all of our questions, and that is okay. The real question is, do we have the faith to trust our all-knowing God amidst our questions and uncertainties?
We are reminded that faith does not mean having all of the answers to our questions in Mark 9. In this passage of Scripture, a man brought his son who had been possessed by a demon to Jesus. He explained that, since his son was a young boy, the spirit caused him to convulse, foam at the mouth, and even fall into fire and water (verses 20-22). The father said to Jesus in this passage of Scripture, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can” (verse 22). This father was desperate for help. In response, Jesus said, “What do you mean, ‘If I can?’... Anything is possible if a person believes” (verse 23). Jesus was asking this man if he had enough faith to believe He could help his son. The father did not have all the answers, but he mustered all the faith he had and said to Jesus, “I do believe, but help my unbelief!” (verse 24). With this small statement of faith, Jesus healed this boy and sent the evil spirit out of him (verses 26-27).
The father in Mark 9 serves as an example for us to follow. He did not have all the answers, but he mustered the little faith he had that Jesus could help his son. Jesus recognized his faith and showed him that He could, indeed, heal his son.
Maybe you can relate to the father in Mark 9. Maybe you have questions, or even a bit of uncertainty. Turn to God with your questions. Muster up the amount of faith you have and declare today, “I believe, but help my unbelief!” Your little bit of faith honors God, and He will respond to your faith accordingly.
When it comes to your questions and doubts, have a conversation with God following the example of the man in Mark 9. Pray his words, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Let these words be a reminder to you that you do not have to have all the answers. You can come to Him with the faith you have, amidst your questions and doubts.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
