The words of the man in this story in Mark 9 (“I believe; help my unbelief”) are reminiscent of where we often are in our relationship with God. Prior to this scene, Jesus had been transfigured, glowing with glory, talking with Moses and Elijah. God had spoken from the cloud, affirming Jesus’s identity and urging His disciples to listen to His beloved Son. On returning from the mountain, Jesus faced a dispute between the scribes and His disciples, in the midst of which there was a boy who needed healing and deliverance.

Jesus had commissioned His disciples previously and given them power to heal, but at this point, they must have felt like failures. When Jesus arrived on the scene, however, people were amazed. He spoke to them, calling them a ‘faithless generation’ (Mk 9:19) and asking the boy’s father who long he had been suffering like this (Mk 9:21). He asked the question so that others could understand the extent of the suffering and appreciate the miracle of healing. Jesus wanted to speak faith into the man’s life.

In Mk 9:23, Jesus assures the man that “everything is possible for one who believes.” It is this radical assertion which prompts the man’s response: “I believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus steps in to situations, hopelessness is transformed. Doubt and unbelief so easily rob us of blessing. We need to pray with the same honesty and heartfelt integrity as the boy’s father and in doing so, we will see Jesus transform all our impossible situations.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21)

We also celebrated another birthday!