Read Mark 9:14-22.

"And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not" (v. 18).

 

An occasional lack of faith seems to be a common problem among Christ-followers. Especially when something for which we were believing didn’t happen quickly. On more than one occasion, I wondered if I was out of line, believing for God to work in certain situations when I wasn’t seeing results for my praying. My doubting wasn’t so much doubting God’s power as it was doubting my connection to Him, a questioning of knowing if I was praying according to His will. Beyond that, however, I must recognize that there was a lack of faith, a lack of trust that God heard or cared about my burden, a doubt that He cared about what I cared about. There have even been times when the “don’t trouble the Master” or “Lord, don’t you care that we perish?” syndrome has popped up in my heart. I am glad that when I cried out to Him with these things, He understood my infirmities and was there to heal, even amid chastisement.

It is easy to understand the discouragement of the disciples and the disillusionment of the desperate father in this story. May we, in such times, be willing to cry out like the father did, recognizing the tenuous hold that we have on faith, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Tim Brubeck)

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).