Rebuking Unbelief: Lord Help Us Believe

Mark 9:23-24 

 23 Jesus said to him, “If[a] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 

In Mark 9:23-24, we encounter one of the most raw and honest expressions of faith in the New Testament. Jesus, responding to a father whose son is possessed by a spirit, states, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." The father’s reply is poignant: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

This passage speaks to the heart of many Christians' experiences. Faith isn’t always a seamless journey of unwavering belief. Instead, it can be a battle between trust in God's power and the very real doubts we carry.

The father's response reflects a deeply human moment—he does believe, yet he is keenly aware of the gaps in his faith. And it is precisely in those gaps that he turns to Jesus, not just to heal his son but to heal his own faith. He acknowledges both his belief and his need for help in overcoming his doubts, showing that faith isn’t the absence of doubt but the willingness to bring that doubt to God.

Jesus’ words, “all things are possible to him who believes,” remind us that belief opens doors to the extraordinary, but the father’s cry is a comforting reminder that it’s okay to struggle. God doesn’t demand perfect faith; He asks for sincerity and humility in our journey toward belief.

When we face moments of uncertainty, we, too, can cry out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” and trust that God meets us right there, in the tension between belief and doubt.

 Keep Believing in Christ!