Help my unbelief.

Have you ever wondered why you keep falling back into the same cycle of doubt, of fear or anxiety when life throws another curveball at you? Maybe it’s the exact same kind of pitch, and you thought you might just hit it out of the park this time around, but you find yourself faltering under the same weight of disbelief and uncertainty.

I reread the story of Mark 9:14 – 29, where a father asks Jesus to have compassion and heal his son from an unclean spirit. The father specifically says to Jesus, ^22b‘If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’  As if! Is essentially how Jesus responds. But in His kindness and merciful compassion, He reminds the dad (and us) – ²³ ‘Anything is possible for those who believe’. 

His response points to our need for faith. It reaches directly to the struggling, weary soul and helps the birth of faith. Or maybe, for those who have been walking with Jesus for some time, the rebirth of our faith. 

You see, faith isn’t stored away like money in a bank; it doesn’t resupply itself on command. Faith is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, ^{8 ‘}For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast.’

So no matter how much faith we have (or think we have), we never reach the point of being self-sufficient. Growing in our faith is a constant process of renewing our trust in Jesus. We will not reach the point of perfection until He comes again. As James tells us, the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ ‘And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.’

So how do we renew our trust? How do we not sink back into the pit of despair when life gets gritty, again?

Here are a few ways:

1. With remembrance. When we reflect on all that God has done in our lives, it reminds us of His faithfulness, His sovereign plans, His providence.
2. With adoration. When we point our heart to the unchanging character of the Lord, we can’t help but worship Him! It changes our gaze, it lifts our chin, it puts a new song in our mouth. 
3. With thankfulness. When we count the ways of His goodness, His abundance, His good gifts – it sets our Hope on Him. Gratitude reconciles our trust and our faith in the One who is always faithful.

Sometimes the most honest prayer we can pray is much like that of the father in Mark 9 – Lord, help my unbelief! 

And rest assured: by His sufficient grace, our faith and our trust can be renewed. You need only ask the author and perfecter Himself.