Help Me Not To Doubt!

"What do you mean, 'If I can'?"Jesus asked.  "Anything is possible if a person believes."

The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"

Mark 9:23-24

Help me overcome my unbelief!  Sometimes we can pray for something for so long and if God isn't ready to answer, or if His answer is taking longer than we would like, we can become discouraged.  With discouragement, doubt creeps into our minds and we start to wonder if our circumstance will ever change.  Like this story about the father who brings his son to see Jesus in hopes of having him healed.  This boy had been possessed by an evil spirit for a very long time, since he was very small (verse 21).  So I imagine that this father, for most of his son's life, had been searching for a cure.  I imagine he and his wife were doing everything they could think of to bring their son healing and relief but to their dismay nothing had worked up to this point. They may have been praying every day, many visits to doctors and long trips to appointments but nothing was working, they were getting no where.  You may be feeling this same way with a situation you are in or you may know exactly what this father feels having a child of your own who is seeking healing for an illness.  As well as you may know our Father and believe every word He says to be true, after so long it's hard not to doubt, even just a little.  

The father in this story was not afraid to admit his doubt.  In fact when he asked Jesus to heal his son he actually added, 'if you can' at the end of his sentence.  It was clear that he was doubting and some may say he was at ropes end.  No place left to turn and by one last chance maybe, just maybe, this Jesus guy could heal his son.  But the beautiful ending to this story was at that moment this father admitted His weakness and doubt, Jesus healed his son.  In this final moment, a father gave over everything he had left, he cried out to Jesus, he admitted to God that he just needed help overcoming his doubt, and his son was healed. 

After the boy was healed the disciples sat with Jesus and asked Him why they had so much trouble healing the boy on their own.  Jesus' simple reply was this, "This kind can be cast out only by prayer".  The prayer of a father pleading with God to help him not to doubt.  The prayer of a man who refused to give up, but was feeling weary.  What are you doubting today?  What have you been praying over for days or even years that you just aren't getting answers to?  Are you getting tired?  Is doubt creeping in?  Are you questionable whether God hears you or is ever going to answer your prayers?  Do as this father did!  Keep praying and admit your doubt and fear.  Hand it all over to a God who loves you and wants what's best for you.  A God who has special surprises waiting around the corner.  He hears your prayers and He will answer any prayer that is aligned with His will (1 John 5:14-15).  

Father God, when we are tired and feel like giving up may we grab everything we have left and throw it at your feet.  We don't want to doubt you but there are times that the world grabs a hold and doubt flies into our minds.  Lord, we absolutely believe that you can do anything and cure any illness but in those times when we grow weary and our patience is running thin help us not to doubt.  In Jesus' Name, Amen and amen.