“But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 

                                                                                                            Mark 9:22b-23 

It’s what demons are all about, destruction. Mode and method matters not to demons, they simply want to destroy what God has created. But demons are not in the forefront of today’s passage. The One who takes center stage in this historical account is Jesus.

A father brings his son to Jesus. The situation is dire. The boy would often fall to the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Although we have a variety of medical conditions that cause people to convulse in a similar fashion as this boy, I would caution us not to dismiss the clarity this passage gives as to the cause of this boy’s torment. Scripture tells us that it was a spirit causing these problems. This demon would throw the boy into fire and water in an attempt to destroy him. The disciples were unable to drive out this demon so the father of the boy comes to Jesus in hopes that something could be done. The father’s plea to Jesus is a desperate and honest one. “If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus response is direct but loving. “If you can? All things are possible to him who believes.” And that is where we need to spend the bulk of our time.

As believers, do we really believe what Jesus is saying? This father was face to face with the Creator of the universe and in a moment of beautiful honesty, he asked the King of Kings and Lord of Lords if He could help. Jesus doesn’t scold or condemn him rather, in what seems to be calling out the man’s spiritual ignorance, Jesus repeats the question. Of course Jesus could help. Of course Jesus would take pity on them and step in to do what only God can do, redeem the situation.

Redemption is the restoration of a situation. Regarding the big picture of mankind’s need for a Savior, redemption was achieved on the cross, again, for all who believe. But redemption is not restricted to the salvation of the human soul. Jesus teaches us that there are no limitations to those who believe. All things are possible when we put our faith and trust in Jesus. He can redeem individual lives. He can redeem families. Jesus can restore anyone or anything when we believe. In Matthew’s record of this same event, we see Jesus instructing His disciples as to why they could not drive out the demon and He also teaches them the power of faith. Consider the following:

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 

                                                                                                         Matthew 17:19-20

Jesus reveals that the disciples’ inability to drive out the demon was a lack of faith or believing. Conversely, Jesus instructed the disciples that exercising just a small amount of faith or believing would result in them performing the supernatural and that nothing would be impossible for them. Again, as believers, do we really believe what Jesus is saying? God is abounding in riches for all who call upon Him (Romans 10:12). He is willing to pour good things into the life of the one who asks (Matthew 7:11). And don’t forget that if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

What I believe we need to realize is that belief and unbelief, although opposites, can exist in a human life simultaneously. Simply put, there are times in the life of a believer when faith comes easily and there are times where doubt and fear creep in, causing us to question or doubt. I believe this phenomenon is exemplified in the father’s statement, “I do believe, help my unbelief.” What a tremendous statement! As this desperate father approaches Jesus in hopes of getting his son back by means of redemption, he is unsure of Jesus’ ability to help yet upon hearing that “all things are possible”, he immediately expresses faith but acknowledges that it is accompanied by unbelief at the same time.

I believe there are two important things that any believer should do when struggling with faith. First, we need to block out any “voices” that run contrary to the word of God. Explaining away the promises of God can create doubt in the life of any Christian. Rather we should cling and trust in the truth of God’s word, living our lives accordingly. Secondly, we need to evaluate and recognize the limitations of our faith. Taking this father’s desperate plea and turning it into our own prayerful request will release the power of God to affect our own faith and increase our ability to resist unbelief. Regardless of where you find yourself in your Christian life today, praying, “I do believe, help my unbelief” will serve you well as an effective, powerful prayer.

By the way, the man’s faith and trust in Jesus yielded his son’s healing and restoration. What do you need God to redeem in your life?