But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)
It’s rather refreshing to come across someone in the Bible who is not a “Hero of the Faith” but just a “regular person” and realize that you aren’t the first to have a thought like they did. I think my favorite guy in the New Testament might have been the man who said “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
You probably remember the story of Jesus talking with the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’s disciples for healing. When they couldn’t cast out the demon, he brought the boy to Jesus.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:21-24 NIV)
“I do believe; help my unbelief.” This has so often been the theme of my life. “I believe; help my unbelief.” “I surrender; help my un-surrender.” “I have faith; help my lack of faith.” “I trust you, God; help my distrust.” Somehow, it seems that our (my) humanity always gets in the way of our (my) good intentions.
Last week at service our pastor asked us to pray and repeat one of those “dangerous prayers,” specifically about surrendering to God an area of our lives. I know myself well enough to know that I wasn’t ready to say the words of that prayer without stretching, maybe even outright lying. Rich Mullins has a line in his song “Hold Me Jesus” that says,
Surrender don’t come natural to me
I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want
Than to take what you give that I need
And I’ve beat my head against so many walls
Now I’m falling down, I’m falling on my knees
Surrender is painful sometimes. Blessedly freeing, but hard. I knew that I wasn’t ready to say that “dangerous prayer,” and that’s why this guy in the Bible story is so helpful to me. He knows he wants his child healed. (Who wouldn’t?!?!) Perhaps he’s being polite when he says “IF you can do anything,” or maybe he’s not completely convinced that Jesus can heal him. Jesus just pulls him in a new direction – “All things are possible if you believe.”
To his credit, the man is honest. “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
Quantifying faith seems impossible; how do you measure or quantify your belief? Is it possible to be fully and 100% anything – faithful, trusting, surrendered, pure, righteous, holy, kind, loving, etc. – this side of heaven? I don’t know. But I know I appreciate this man’s honesty. He knew he had unbelief; he asked for help. I know I have areas of unbelief; I ask for help.
I do believe God’s mercy and grace extend to the places where we are honest with God and say, “I sort of have it. Please help me have more of it.” This is where our God who is rich in mercy pours out his great love for us, even when we are partly empty or even dead, and shows us his grace. He meets us in the partway-places and lovingly invites us to more. He takes what we have – even our unbelief – and offers us his more. More belief. More faith. More hope. More trust. More of him. Today, let us be honest in the places where we can grow, and ask God to meet us there. Let us cry out with this honest man…
“Lord, I have faith. Help me in the places within me where I don’t have faith.
Lord, I have trust. Help me in the places where I don’t trust you.
Lord, I surrender. Help me in the places that aren’t surrendered.
Lord I have hope. Help me where I feel hopeless.
Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.”
AMEN.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)