Help Thou My Unbelief (Mark 9:17-27)

Part of the promise of the Atonement is the blessing that comes after all we can do.  When we are not enough, Christ can make up the difference.  But we have to ask Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, for the added strength.  For drawing closer to Christ is not an event but a process. As we walk along that trail, we will find not only that Christ is aware of our limitations but that, after all we can do, He will compensate for them.  The sense of falling short or falling down is a natural part of each of our lives.  But we need to believe that after all we can do, Christ can fill that which is empty, straighten our bent parts, and make strong that which is weak (Freeman, Emily; 21 Days Closer to Christ).

Mark 9:17-27 relates the poignant story of a man whose son has been suffering with a horrible malady that has racked his body and soul since he was a child.  The man has enough faith to approach Christ's disciples to ask for help.  He hopes they hold the power to heal his son; however, they are not spiritually prepared to answer such a daunting request (see Mark 9:28-29).  He then continues his efforts on behalf of his son by approaching the Savior.  The pleading of this man, the way he describes his child's suffering, and what happens next melts my mother heart as I think of times when I have sought the Savior's blessings on behalf of my own children in the midst of their sufferings.

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

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

19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose 

Tears came to my eyes today as I read this heart-wrenching account of a humble parent desperately seeking a miracle from a source that he hoped had the power to give it.  He believed enough to ask, and that belief grew into faith as he turned his son over to Christ.  After hearing this father's humble plea for compassion, Jesus makes a statement that can apply to all of us, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  

I picture the Savior standing eye-to-eye with this tormented father, piercing his broken heart with love and understanding.  Perhaps this good man felt that his seed of faith was not enough, that he needed Christ to help him overcome his lingering doubts; thus, his emotional outcry,  Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.  The Savior's answer came in the form of this man's sought after miracle.  His child was healed, and "Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up."  

I believe that this lifting up was not only manifest in the physical change that took place in the son, but in the spiritual strengthening of the father's faith in the Son of God.  What miracles could take place in my life if I were to ask God each day to "help thou my unbelief" in areas where I feel I am lacking?  I plan on finding out! 

Let Go and Let God

     Today in my studies, I came across this quote by C.S. Lewis.  You may have heard it before, but it is a reminder worth reading again.  

      Imagine yourself as a living house.  God comes in to rebuild that house.  At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing.  He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on:  you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.  But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense.  What on earth is He up to?  The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards.  You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage:  but He is building a palace. . . .

The command “Be ye perfect” is not idealistic gas.  Nor is it a command to do the impossible.  He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command.  He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods” and He is going to make good His words.  If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine. . . .  The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for.  Nothing less.  He meant what He said.”