Help Me Overcome My Unbelief

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:14-24

Today's Treasure:

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Believing God is never more critical than when we have strongholds that need to be demolished. Believing God is also rarely more challenging. Why? Because we've battled most of our strongholds for years and perhaps tried countless remedies in an effort to be free with very little success. The enemy taunts us with little whispers like, "You'll never be free. You've tried a hundred times. You're hopeless. You're weak. You're a failure. You don't have what it takes." Every one of these statements about you is a lie if you are a believer in Christ. You do have what it takes. You have Jesus—the Way, the Truth and the Life. But you can't just believe in Him to be free from your stronghold. You must believe Him. Believe He can do what he says He can do. Believe He is who He says He is. And believe you are who He says you are.

You may be thinking, "I want to believe! I just don't have enough faith!" God's Word records an encounter in Mark 9:14-24 to encourage every person who wants to believe. Christ met a man with a son who had been possessed by the enemy since childhood. No telling how many physicians, witch doctors, religious fanatics, wise men, and foolish men the father had sought to find freedom for his son. Imagine the glimmer of hope that kindled his soul when rumor circulated about the disciples of Jesus who were reputed to perform miracles. Then imagine his devastation when they too were added to the list of the failed. Jesus asked for the boy to be brought to him. The father's desperate plea could bring an empathetic lump to the throat of any parent: "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."  I love Jesus' powerful retort: " 'If you can...?' Everything is possible for him who believes." The father's reply comprises one of the most honest, priceless moments in the record of Christ's human encounters. "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe.' " Then, as if Christ had caught his gaze eye to eye, reading his questioning mind, the father quickly restated, "Help me overcome my unbelief!"

I am convinced that God would rather hear our honest pleas for more of what we lack than a host of pious platitudes from a believing heart. When I am challenged with unbelief, I have begun to make the same earnest plea to the One who would gladly supply.

Ephesians 1:18-20 says, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead," (emphasis mine).

Please accept and celebrate two awesome truths derived from these scriptures. First, God wields incomparably great power for those who choose to believe—more than enough to break the yoke of any bondage. Our belief unclogs the pipe and invites the power to flow. Second, God applies the same power to our need that He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead. Does your stronghold require more power than it takes to raise the dead? Neither does mine! God can do it, fellow believer. I know because He's done it for me. Believe Him...and when you don't, cry out earnestly, "Help me overcome my unbelief!"

Heavenly Father, I confess that while I believe in You, I do not always believe You. I pray that the eyes of my heart would be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for those who believe. I praise You because that power is like the working of Your mighty strength, which You exerted in Christ when you raised Him from the dead. Amen.

Adapted from Praying God's Word, by Beth Moore, pages 35-37. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. Used by permission.