On Sunday we looked at St. Mark’s account of Jesus healing the boy with an unclean spirit. We considered the heaviness, the boy’s father had carried for years and how grieved and exhausted he must have been, daily feeling the hopelessness that his son’s condition would never improve. When confronted with his own doubts and fears about whether Jesus could heal the boy, the boy’s father cried out in desperation, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

This must be our own cry to the Lord. The Scriptures teach that without faith, it is impossible to please God, which means you and I of ourselves can never please God, for we are full of unbelief. But the wonder and glory of the Gospel is that whenever God requires something from us, He always gives it to us, first! Faith itself is a gift God gives to those who will only ask for it.

When you feel your own doubts and fears about God’s love for you crowding in and pushing you away from Him, look to Jesus, whose life and death are proof God loves you. Recognize your own faith is too weak to save you or even to go through your present trial. But believe He is able and cry out to Him to provide what you are lacking. A mustard-seed-size amount of faith in Jesus is enough to move mountains, for it is Jesus and not your faith who moves mountains. It is Jesus who casts out evil and restores you to fellowship with your heavenly Father.

So, believe! And may the Lord Jesus help your unbelief (and mine)!