With A Little Help From My Friend

I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!
Mark 9:24 --A Wavering Dad's Request.

     Imagine one of your children, grandchildren, niece or nephew is suffering bitterly.  And they have been suffering for quite sometime.  Their sickness has rendered them speechless, and it almost appears they are possessed.   You have gone to some of the best around who were noted as healers and even authentic miracle workers, but in the case of your child, the situation seems to be getting worse.  How would you feel?  What would you be thinking?  What could possibly be happening inside your Temple of The Holy Spirit?

    Then imagine Jesus coming your way.  As far as anyone knows, the only time He couldn't do miracles was in His own hometown of Nazareth.   The folks could simply not believe that a local hometown boy, the son of a carpenter, could work miracles.  Guess what? He could not because of their unbelief.  Jesus actually made a comment about these "friends and relatives."  He said, "A Prophet is without honor in his own town."  But besides Nazareth, Jesus walked this earth as an miracle working extraordinaire; therefore, there was no reason to doubt what Jesus could do.  

    Then the action started:  Jesus said to the man, "If you can believe, all things are possible to those who believe."  The Dad could feel his faith rising up within his heart.  I can almost hear him shouting, " I BELIEVE!"  However, all of the sudden, creeping up within him,  there came to be an anxious doubt.  You know how these things can surprise you.  Right?  Well, if not,  I can.  It's not an unusual thing for faith to rise up and be deflated when the challenge of the faith has to be faced.  AKA Peter walking on the water.  Back to the story.  Jesus said, "If you can believe all things are possible to those who believe."  The doubt creeps in, and the Dad became honest with God.  He said, " Help me overcome my unbelief.

     Here is the miracle of faith in actions:  If your doubt,  and if fear begins to overtake you, give it up to Jesus.  Be honest with Him.  Let Him know what your are feeling and thinking. (He already knows.)  Don't wallow in unnecessary guilt and shame because of your unbelief. It does you no good to beat yourself up.  Admit it!  Or confess it.  Tell Him how you're feeling and thinking.  Tell Him what's going on inside. Then pray the short simple prayer this man prayed.  With a little help from your friend, Jesus (John 15:15,) you just might be surprised what happens next.

     In our passage,  a miracle occurred. He was looking for one, and he got it.  But it didn't come easy.  It was years prior to Jesus, in the making, and he never gave up. Finally, after years of wishing and hoping and praying God would help, the Dad's child was healed and he was delivered.  This happened, not because the Dad was a powerhouse of faith, but because he was honest with God in prayer, and he was persistent in seeking God. His faith was focused on the bigger miracle that needed to occur.  He was focused  fear and doubt, and Jesus did indeed help him overcome his unbelief.

     I have never had  a child sick and tormented like this child, but I have seen God's miracles up close and personal, with  little help from my friend.

SoJourner