Help My Unbelief

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
 
Mark 9:24 is a verse in the Bible that shows the conflict between faith and unfaith. In seeking the Lord’s help, a man came to Jesus once, fell to his knees weeping, and said, “I believe; help my unbelief.” How can the man say he believes and at the same time ask for help in overcoming unbelief?

A man from the crowd explained that the disciples had been trying to cast a demon out of his son but had failed in their attempt. Jesus said, “You unbelieving generation, . . . how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” The boy was brought to Jesus, but “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.” After the boy’s father further explained his son’s condition, he said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.

Jesus assured the man that “everything is possible for one who believes” “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” Upon hearing the man’s request, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus immediately spoke to the unclean spirit and permanently cast it out of the boy.

The dominant theme in this passage is faith and doubt. “You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” The boy’s father initially seems to display a lack of faith as well. He asks Jesus to do something for the boy “if you can.” Jesus picks up on this doubt. In essence, He responds by saying, “What do you mean, IF I can?” He goes on to assure the man that anything is possible if he has faith. He wants to express faith but at the same time be genuine. So, he says, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Have you ever found yourself in a similar position of wanting to wholeheartedly trust in the Lord, but feeling the weight of doubts and uncertainties creeping in? This verse reminds us that it is okay to struggle with our faith at times, and it is important to be honest with God about our doubts and fears. In Matthew 14:31, Jesus questions Peter after he begins to sink while walking on water: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”, Believers are urged to ask in faith without doubting. Doubt is a common part of the faith journey. Many people in today’s world grapple with doubt and faith simultaneously.

Faith is a journey, not a destination.