Doubt - to lack confidence in : distrust - Merriam Online Dictionary
Many believers and non-believers alike think that a strong Christian is one who does not doubt God. I am here to tell you today that everyone doubts God from time to time. But it is through those doubts that God proves himself faithful. Then His faithfulness brings us to repentance. That repentances takes the halo off of our faith and puts it rightly on the King, Jesus. The more we get mad at our doubt the more we concentrate on our doubt. Remember
WE WILL NEVER GET THIS LIFE RIGHT THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.
I hope that statement frees your conscience to learn who Jesus is instead of finding fault with your own faithfulness. “I should have listened”, “I should have tithed” and “I should have known God would come through” are all self-defeating if that is all you concentrate on.
There is a great passage on doubts, our faith and God’s plan in the 9th Chapter of Mark.
Mark 9:16:29 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “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.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
This story is so much like our lives. This boy did not have normal seizures as when Jesus came and called out to the evil spirit inside the boy the evil spirit shrieked and came out.in The boy’s father made a very interesting statement to Jesus.
“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” This man had doubts. Have you ever been in the emergency room with your child and things look really bad? You would be hard pressed to say that 100% of your mind believes that the outcome will be good. Then Jesus says to the boy’s father and I don’t believe in an arrogant way but a compassionate way “, “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Jesus starts my asking the same question of doubt back to the father “If You Can”. It seems that the father gets a little flustered because he wants his child to be healed and then says a very interesting statement.
”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Doesn’t this seem like a contradiction of words. He is agreeing with Jesus that he believes but at the same time he is saying “help me overcome my unbelief”. The disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive the evil spirit out and Jesus said “this evil spirit could only come out by prayer.” Excuse me, I thought the disciples knew how to pray?
Thank goodness for people being real and honest. That is whom God loves. Not the person who claims to have it all together but the person who does not. The person who needs Jesus more than he needs himself. I pray that you are open enough to pray to Jesus “Help me to overcome my unbelief.” I want to believe but a lot of times I doubt, especially in a crisis. But with God being consistent my doubt starts to turn to trust when I see how faithful God is. I feel like the disciples came from a background of praying rote prayers. In a lot of churches there are many prayers that are said week in and week out. They are good prayers but over time they can become just words. I feel that this is what happened to the disciples. They did not see the power of a real prayer. They may have been praying like the religious leaders. Praying for people to see and hear but not praying for God to change their heart and the hearts of others.
So this is what I want you to take away with you today.
1. God is faithful even when we are not.
2. God understand your heart, your struggles, your pain and your doubt. It is OK to doubt only if you ask Jesus to help you overcome your unbelief. When you ask Jesus to help you, you are acknowledging Jesus has the power to do so. You are acknowledging that you want to know and trust Jesus,
3. God is very, very, very forgiving. He could have not healed the boy because of the father asking “If you can”, He could have not healed the boy when the disciples did not know how to pray. But he healed the boy because God has compassion.
Today, don’t get down on yourself if you have faltered in your faith with sin and doubt. God is right here waiting for YOU now. He desires to help you overcome your unbelief so that you can live a life of peace and not turmoil. Will you trust Him today by asking for help or will you still try to handle this world on your own? That is where the choice is yours. Please choose wisely whom you will serve. Some of the best prayers are the word “Help”.
Have a great day.
Brad
