You may be asking the question, what if I am struggling with faith? Here is something important for you to remember: faith is a gift. Paul writes these words in Ephesians: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Faith is not a matter of trying harder to believe or conjuring up something within yourself. Faith is a gift that God gives to those who ask.
Here is Mark from our reading today.
Mark 9:20-24: “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 one who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief’”
Here is a child who has been suffering and a parent who has had the pain of watching his child suffer. Jesus asks the father a question and picks up on the man’s doubt. Maybe you have been there—wanting to believe that God can do something about your situation, but struggling to believe He really will.
Then Jesus says, “Anything is possible for the one who believes.” Listen to the cry of the father, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” If you are struggling with faith, lacking confidence that God can really heal your situation, then pray and ask God for more faith. This is also one of the things God can do for you when you struggle to have faith. If you ask Him, He will give you the gift of faith.
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