Jesus, I Believe

Mark 9:23-24 (NIV) "Everything is possible for him who believes. Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief."

I remember the story of the father who came to Jesus to present his son who was being tortured by an evil spirit. The father said to Jesus, if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. Jesus’ response to this father was, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boys father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." And Jesus commanded the evil spirits to come out of the boy and he was immediately healed and set free from these evil spirits that tormented him. Jesus, compassionate and powerful! What struck me most in this story, was not that the father’s immediate response “I do believe”, but the confession that followed after that declaration, “help me overcome my unbelief.” Has this ever happen to you? You say, yes Lord, I believe, but some part of you was doubting whether God will do it? This has been me on several occasions. Just believe, Jesus said. My heart went out to this father who would do or say anything in order for his son to be healed and set free at last from this torture his son had been experiencing for years. But as “I believe” left the mouth of this father, something internal in him was happening as he was in the presence of Jesus. Not only was Jesus going to heal his boy, but this father was also going to have a personal and transformational experience that would change how he viewed God and his goodness.

Romans 8:34 (NIV )"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

Romans 8:26-27 (NIV) "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

In his book "Help My Unbelief" author Barnabas Piper said that, "...doubt is not the enemy of faith." Jesus knew where this father’s faith stood and he could of just healed the boy out of compassion and that would of been the end of the story. But I could imagine seeing Jesus being moved as he heard this father confess, “help me overcome my unbelief.” Something happens when we welcome Jesus in the midst of our struggles, fears, and doubts. When we say, Jesus, this is where I am, in your mercy, would you come and meet me here. This reminds of a chorus of a song that says, “Mercy came running, like a prisoner set free, past all my failures, to the point of my need, when the sin that I carried, was all I could see, and when I could not reach mercy, mercy came running to me.” It’s ok if we can’t reach out to Jesus at times, we are wonderfully reminded in this story, that he is always ready to reach out to us in spite of our unbelief, because he is a God of grace, of compassion, and of mercy.

I wanted to write a song that would encourage us to dwell on, “what if Jesus heals me or heals this person I care about” in spite of whether I do believe, kind of believe or don't. The same Jesus who is revealed in Scripture healing and setting free people of all walks of life from doubt, sickness, sin, pride, rebellion, anger, and broken faith, is the same Jesus who waits for you to call upon him as this father did. Our heart for this song, is that it would deepen your relationship with Jesus and help you know that He is good and faithful no matter what. I call this song, Jesus, I Believe.

"Do you want to believe? Then you already do." (Help My Unbelief) - N.D. Wilson

"Belief is from Him. Ask for it, and in the asking, you have already received."- (Help My Unbelief) - N.D. Wilson

Take Away:

• As you call out to Jesus and he turns to you, what is happening in you?
• As you step out and confess, what is God revealing about himself to you?
• If you are struggling to believe for healing or freedom, that’s ok. Jesus is present and near and waiting for us to call upon his name for the impossible.

Recommended Book:

• Help My Unbelief

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