He Knows My Unbelief
Scripture Reading: Mark 9:14-32
Meditation
When a child is in constant pain and a father’s persistent prayers go unanswered, doubt tears faith apart.
The father who brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples has faith, but it’s a faith intermixed with unbelief. And right now, unbelief is slowly taking over the lion’s share of this father’s heart.
A small part of his heart still believes that God is powerful and merciful; that he does intervene and can do the impossible; that he, too, has a father’s heart that beats fast for his children. But when the demon attacks his son, this God seems to sit passively in his heaven. He appears to be deaf to prayers and either too busy or unable to offer a healing and helping hand. With every seizure of his son, the father’s faith is shaken and unbelief begins to lay a firm foundation.
This struggle of faith is nothing new. From childhood, a demon of Satan has stalked his son. The evil spirit has robbed his boy of speech. It has ravaged his body, thrown him into the fire countless times, and tried to drown him. When the tormenting demon comes, all this father can do is panic and pray.
The son is defenseless; the father is powerless.
Though the father longs to help his son, he can’t stop the attacks. He can’t calm the convulsions. He can’t take away the pain. And when the sadistic spirit finally leaves, the father can’t even promise his son that it’s over. There is no assurance that hell’s henchman won’t come back. There may be more to be afraid of.
For this father, the days have been long and the nights even longer. The thief that ravages the boy’s body has also robbed the father of his energy. His son needs constant care, countless prayers. A continual watch has to be manned for the next attack. The battle has been so long, so hard, and the demon is so close to victory. It has bereaved the father of his hope and deprived him of all of his parental dreams.
When his son cut his first tooth, the demon ground and gnashed it. When his toddler raised his foot to take his first steps, the evil one that had invaded the boy’s body seized him. It threw him to the ground and thrashed him around until he foamed at the mouth. When it was time for him to utter his first words, there was no “Abba”, only a growl. When the attacks come, they are so violent that the father can’t get near his son. He can’t hold him. He can’t stroke his hair or wipe away the tears.
When he asks …
“What’s wrong?
Where does it hurt? What’s going on?”
… his son can’t answer.
All his son can do is moan. With each moan and every unanswered prayer, the father’s faith exits and unbelief makes its bold entrance.
But though unbelief is moving in, it hasn’t yet evicted this father’s faith. Miraculous news has just come from Galilee. A man named Jesus and twelve of his followers have been going from village to village, teaching, preaching, healing the sick and driving out many demons. It is said that these men even have authority over evil spirits.
Upon hearing the news, the father immediately picks up his boy and runs to the village. When he arrives, he doesn’t find Jesus but he does find nine of the twelve disciples. He pleads with them to heal his son. He begs for pity.
The disciples surround the boy. Just like every other exorcism they’ve performed, they stretch out their hands and command the spirit to come out. But this time the evil spirit doesn’t exit. Instead, through the boy’s shriek, the demon scoffs at the disciples. To show them that he’s still alive and kicking, the demon grabs hold of the boy and throws him thrashing to the ground.
As the boy begins to shake and foam at the mouth, a large crowd hurriedly gathers. The teachers of the law disregard the plight of the boy; instead, they use his pain to mock the impotency of the disciples. Tempers flare and an argument begins. Just as things are about to come to blows, Jesus, Peter, James, and John enter the village, straight from the Mount of Transfiguration. When those in the crowd see Jesus, they are overwhelmed with wonder and run to greet him. As they encircle him, Jesus asks,
“What’s going on? What’s all the commotion?”1
The father in the crowd answers,
“Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.”2
Jesus shakes his head in bitter disappointment and rebukes the unbelief of his disciples.
“What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.”3
The disciples bring the boy to Jesus but as soon as the demon sees the Savior, it throws the boy into a seizure. Quickly, Jesus catches the eye of the father and asks him what’s wrong with the boy and how long this has been going on.
The father answers,
“Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”
Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”4
Jesus sparks belief in the father.
He douses his doubts and ignites hope.
He kindles and fuels faith until divine possibilities begin to blaze.
Taking the boy, Jesus rebukes the evil spirit, commanding the tormenter to leave and demanding that he never enter the child again. The demon violently convulses the boy one last time and then he leaves, never to enter again. But as he leaves, the boy’s body goes limp—corpselike. The crowd thinks the boy is dead but Jesus takes him by the hand and gives him back to his father.
Alive. Vibrant. Free.
Jesus has just given an unbelieving generation an undeniable sign. He has freed an imprisoned child from demonic chains and he has helped a father with a fragile faith overcome his doubts.
Reflection
Who or what is attacking your family? What fears do you have for your family? How are they affecting your faith in Christ?
How have you said to Christ, “If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”?
Write a prayer to Jesus.
Begin by saying, “I do believe that you can …”
Finish the prayer by saying, “I’m having a hard time believing … help me with my doubts.”
Prayer
Father,
You know what it’s like to stand and watch your son suffer. Satan tempted him. His own people tortured and crucified him. When he suffered, he cried, “Father” and begged for your mercy. Though he was your son, you let him endure the full wrath of hell’s demons. He went to the cross and entered the tomb but rose on the third day. He conquered sin, death, and the power of the devil.
During this day, take pity on me and help me. When the evil one attacks those I love, give me faith in order that I might believe; strength so that I might endure; courage so that I might fight; love in order that I might comfort others; peace so that I might rest; hope in order that I might continue; joy so that I can worship; patience in order that I might wait; and persistence so that I might always pray. I do believe that everything is possible with, in, and through your Son but I need your help to overcome my unbelief.
It’s in the name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.
1Mark 9:16 2Mark 9:17-18 3Mark 9:19 4Mark 9:21-24
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.