He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

– Mark 9:19-24 (NKJV)

This man’s son had been caught up as fodder for a theological debate among the scribes and the disciples of Jesus. His curious case of possession by a mute spirit was used to undermine the authority of the disciples and cause them to doubt themselves. Yet, everyone around, scribes, disciples, the crowd, all seemed to be missing the point. This man’s boy still needed to be healed!

So Jesus is ready to heal this boy but he ties it to the father’s belief. It’s no longer about if Jesus can… but about this boy’s father. He has been let down so many times, he doesn’t want to miss this if Jesus is real, but at the same time he doesn’t want to me taken as a fool and so he cries out, “I believe, but help my unbelief!”

If we are honest, this is often how we cry out to God to save us from our sins. Parts of us believe that he can and he will, but parts of us have doubts. So we ask God to give us grace and strength to overcome our doubts.

Of course it is amazing what Jesus can do with just a little belief. Just like multiplying loaves and fish, he can take what little faith we really have and move mountains.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for the freedom we have to place our trust in you. Where we are weak, please give us strength. Please give us discernment as You apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.