Mark 9:24, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” A mother will tend to her ailing child with an urgent call to the doctor. She’ll cuddle him and hurry in hopes for a soothing remedy to calm him. We’ve all experienced this kind of situation in our life with uncertainty and feelings of hopelessness. The scene here in Mark is that Jesus is well-known for His healing, and the gathering of people surrounding Him. A distraught father reaches out seeking Jesus for help in healing his demon-possessed son…if he can? Jesus questions the father and says, “your son can be healed if you believe.”; and He goes on to say, “anything is possible if a person believes.” In desperation along with doubt and fear (asking ‘if he can’), the father responds with today’s verse, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” He may not have known the power and faithfulness of God, but he knows what it is to be a father who loves his son; and, that he would do anything for his son. He puts his trust in the words of Jesus Christ. In our fallen world, there is a spiritual struggle that tugs at us; the sinful self and the Spirit of God. Galatians 5:17 says it clearly, “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Spirit wants…these two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” Proverbs 4:23 firmly follows up with how we prevent our flesh nature thoughts and actions, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Every Christian has been saved by faith. Faith is given to us by the grace of God. His words in Ephesians 2:8 states, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” By this, we must exercise our gift-given faith and put it into practice; have faith in God. The sinful self struggles against faith. We need help like the father of our verse for today, we all need Jesus to help us daily. We need Him and the Holy Spirit to fill us full so we can overcome the unbelief of our sinful selves. Do we wholeheartedly believe in the Word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ? Everything the word says and everything it entails?
Phil 4:13, For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Eph 3:20, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Rom 8:28, And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Forgive me for the times when my trust in You has been overshadowed by doubt, and my spiritual walk has strayed from the paths of righteousness, truth, and wisdom. Help me to fulfill the work that you have prepared before me, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Father, Your Word is true. To You all glory and praise. Believe in the word of God and the truth of Jesus Christ to overcome unbelief.