Discouragement is our typical response when our desires our unfulfilled. That was the situation a desperate father experienced when he brought his son to Jesus’ disciples to be delivered from an unclean spirit:

and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it. (Mark 9:18)

The father explained the situation and expressed his frustration to Jesus:

It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us! (Mark 9:22)

Jesus detected that the man’s faith was wavering and He pointed out the need to believe:

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

The boy’s father declared his conflicted thoughts. He wanted to believe, but he had doubts that his son would be delivered:

Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

Many people can identify with the father’s paradox of faith and doubt. He desperately wanted his son to be healed and he also pleaded to be delivered from his unbelief. The Lord is not limited by our imperfect faith, He can handle our doubts. Os Guinness made the astute observation, “Doubt is not the opposite of faith, nor is it the same as unbelief. Doubt is a state of mind in suspension between faith and unbelief so that it is neither of them wholly and it is each only partly.” We can take courage that God can lead our doubts to an even greater understanding and faith.

Where is your focus – is it on the problem or is your focus upon the God who is greater than your problem? Our responsibility is to feed our faith and starve our doubts:

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

The circumstances of our lives may also develop our faith. God can use great trials to produce a strong faith.

Doubt sees the obstacles
faith sees the way.
Doubt sees the darkest night
Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step
Faith soars on high.
Doubt questions ‘who believes?’
Faith answers, ‘I.’

Jesus cast out the unclean spirit and healed the boy. When the disciples were alone with Jesus they asked Him, “Why could we not drive it out?”

And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

Prayer is an expression of our dependence upon God. Could it be that the disciples were depending more on their abilities than on God? Remember that nothing is too difficult for God. Don’t doubt in the darkness what you know to be true in the light.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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