Believe

Sometimes it seems that circumstances or situations have been the same for so long that they will never change. A marriage that is on a rough road, a struggle with addictions, a child that has gone astray or enduring sickness, can each bring about hopelessness.

In Mark:9 we come across a story of a man who was desperate to help his son. From birth something was very wrong with his child. He was robbed of his speech and was experiencing seizures. One thing the father was sure of was that his child was possessed by a spirit. Nothing tried had brought forth the healing freedom that this child was in need of.

The father, hearing of Jesus, brought his child before him in hopes that Jesus could do something to make him better. Gathering around Jesus was the arguing teachers of the law and many disbelieving people. Jesus instructed the father to bring the child to him. Immediately the spirits threw the boy into a convulsion where he fell to the ground rolling and foaming at the mouth. Often, this spirit tried to kill this child by throwing him into fire or water. The boys father desperately said to Jesus, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

I love Jesus response. "If you can?" said Jesus. "Every thing is possible for him who believes." The boys father said, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." Upon speaking authoritative words, the evil spirit left and the boy stood up healed!

There are two things at work in this story. One is "believing" and the other one is "overcoming doubt". Often these two are in conflict within the situations we want to see changed. The longer the trial, the longer the battle. Sometimes we get weary while we are waiting.

But our hope comes from the Holy Word, not how our circumstances look. "IF you can" thoughts need to become "EVERYTHING is POSSIBLE" thoughts. Overcoming unbelief is a choice of the flesh that challenges us to walk by faith and not by sight.

Let today be the day that your belief is not overcome by doubt, but that your doubt is overcome by belief!