Just Believe Hard Enough?

“I believe; help my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24

I love this verse from Mark's Gospel.

Maybe because it sounds so honest.

A desperate father brings his son to Jesus, hoping Jesus can help him. After years of watching his child suffer, the man isn't overflowing with confidence.

He says to Jesus, “If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.”

Jesus responds, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.”

And the father immediately cries out:

“I believe; help my unbelief!”

There it is.

Faith and doubt in the same sentence.

Maybe even in the same breath.

Some of us were taught that real faith means having no doubts.

I will never forget a class I taught twenty years ago about experiencing God, and I talked about having both faith and doubt. 

An older couple in the class were shocked by this. 

"You should never doubt God, pastor!"  

So many of us were taught that faith and doubt didn't go hand in hand, even through they do.  

If we question, we aren't trusting God enough.

If our prayers aren't answered, maybe we didn't believe hard enough.

If we're afraid, perhaps our faith isn't strong enough.

But Jesus never said that.

In fact, some of the most faithful people in Scripture wrestle with doubt.

Abraham questions.

Moses argues.

Job protests.

The Psalms are filled with people asking God, “Why?” and “How long?”

Thomas wants evidence.

Even Jesus cries from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Biblical faith is far messier than certainty.

And I find that incredibly freeing.

Because some days I believe deeply.

Other days I have questions.

Some days God's presence seems unmistakable.

Other days God feels very far away.

Perhaps you know what that feels like.

The good news is that Jesus doesn't reject the father for having imperfect faith.

Jesus meets him right there.

“I believe; help my unbelief.”

The man is essentially saying, "I've got just a little bit of faith." 

Maybe that's enough.

Faith isn't pretending we don't have questions.

Faith isn't forcing ourselves to feel certain.

Faith is bringing whatever we have to God.

Hope.

Fear.

Trust.

Questions.

Confidence.

Doubt.

All of it.

And saying, “God, this is what I have today.”

Perhaps mature faith isn't certainty after all.

Perhaps mature faith is learning to trust God even when we don't have certainty.

I'd like to think that when Jesus heard that father say what he said, he might have said, "I can work with that."  

You don't need perfect faith. You only need enough faith to bring your imperfect faith to God.

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever.  

Prayer

God, I believe; help my unbelief. When I am confident, keep me humble. When I have questions, keep me searching. When I doubt, keep me close. Help me trust that you are not frightened by my questions and that your faithfulness is greater than the strength of my faith. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Were you ever taught that doubt was a sign of weak faith? How has that shaped you?
2. What questions about God or faith are you carrying right now?
3. What would it look like to bring those questions honestly to God rather than trying to hide them?