Help My Unbelief

 Mark 9:17- “Then one from the multitude answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit”…vs. 22-24-  “And often he has thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”  Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

         Lord I believe, help my unbelief.  This man was not ashamed of his unbelief, are we?  What a statement from this man, what a prayer.  Are we this honest, this humble, with no fear or worry of what Jesus, or others would think of us.  The Lord’s desire is for us to be more authentic in our walk  with Him and develop a deeper trust in Him for every area of our life?  God’s process in our life is to turn our unbelief into belief!

     How does God turn our unbelief into belief?  As was stated, it is a process.  We are in the process of being changed.  God is sifting out the impurities within us to make us pure.  It is His desire to present his bride, spotless…

      A primary way He does this is through our relationship with Him.  As was stated in the passage in Mark this man was honest with Jesus about his unbelief. This man confessed to Jesus his lack of belief (of which the Lord already knew).   As a result of Jesus touching this man’s situation, his faith increased.  Even when we do not know what God will do in a certain situation we can know and trust that He will respond and help our situation to increase our faith.

          He also uses the relationships within the church to help our unbelief.  Are we utilizing the function of the church to its fullest potential?  Many testimony times in church are filled with our thanksgiving and praise to the Lord for what He has done.  Often people will also ask for prayer for trials and tribulations, but how often do we ask for prayer for our lack of belief?  We often will only present our “best” to others, and sometimes even to God, why?  Are we afraid of what others will think of us, that they will question our spiritual and emotional growth?  Why wouldn’t we ask others to pray for our lack of belief, are we at a place that our faith isn’t tested?  Or is it a difficulty that we have in trusting others to hold our shortcomings with respect, perhaps fear that others will gossip.

      For many of my clients the counseling office is the one and only place that they can be honest about their feelings.  It is a sense of relief to be able to discuss their belief as well as their unbelief freely, desiring to work through problems and shortcomings with the Lord and grow to a deeper faith.

        This honesty can be a part of helping to deepen our faith, and strengthen the body, that we can be honest and real about our spiritual condition with God and one another.   

     He is waiting for us to be honest with Him about the areas of our unbelief, He already knows our situation better than we do, and he passionately loves us, warts and all…

                            In Him,                                                      

                            David L. Brower, MSW, LCSW