Help my Unbelief

Help my Unbelief
Words of Faith 1-23-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 9
[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 him who believes."
[24] Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Have you ever asked a question and immediately really wished you could have it back? Major foot in mouth? This may have been one of those situations.
Here, a father stood before Jesus, the Messiah of God, the Christ, the Word made flesh, who had just come down from a mountain where He was chatting with Elijah and Moses. As a parent, the father had been entirely at his wit's end trying to deal with a child who was apparently demonically harassed, if not possessed. (Teen years are often challenging, but this was an exceptional case!)
Jesus asked a few diagnostic questions, and then the father uttered those words that he probably wished he could get back: "If you can..."
We can almost picture the Great Physician reading the boy's chart and looking up over his reading glasses with raised eyebrows as he said: "IF you can...? But surely Jesus understood. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Then Jesus pronounced a great truth: "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Next, we hear a response of the heart: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Ever been there? Have you ever suddenly realized that the problem is not God, His willingness, or His ability. The problem is often my belief. The issue is often my ability or willingness to wholly entrust a desperate situation to God.
Worse yet is when we get stuck thinking that we are required to have enormous faith. Not so. Jesus said all the faith you need is all the faith you've got. Remember Matthew 17:20? "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." The key is to put what little faith we have into action. O God, I DO believe; help me overcome my unbelief!
Is there something you have struggled with? Is there something you have been unable or unwilling to trust to God? Perhaps, like the father in the text, it is a person you love but cannot help. It may be a situation that is beyond your control. As Jesus comes near, it is easy to let those words slip out: "If you can..."
Turn that situation over to Jesus today. If only with a mustard seed of faith, turn it over to Jesus. He will help your unbelief. He will help you. Everything is possible for him, who believes.

O God, I believe. Help my unbelief. I entrust to You the struggle I have held back. Take control of that situation. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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