Unbelief

Unbelief, now that’s a word we do not use too often.  What does unbelief really mean?  Is it a lack of belief?  The Merriam Webster Student Dictionary puts it like this, “the withholding or absence of belief: DOUBT”.  Withholding belief, why would we do that?  Don’t we all have just a little unbelief or doubt?  I know I do.  We all seem to want things done our way, on our timetable and at our convenience.  My question is: are we allowed unbelief?  Jesus met a man who needed help with this in Mark chapter 9. Here, yet another demon-possessed person is brought to Jesus.  This time it is a Son.  Let’s take a look starting in verse 19. 

“Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”  So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.  “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.  He replied, “Since he was a little boy.  The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”  “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”  The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”  When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.”  But Jesus took him by the hand, helped him to his feet, and he stood up.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?  Anything is possible if a person believes.”  That’s my favorite part.  The father had a little unbelief.  He had obviously heard about Jesus and had probably seen some of the amazing things Jesus had been doing among the people and he still had that slight doubt, “if you can”.  One thing that is always amazing to me is that the demons always know Jesus.  Never one time does a demon encounter Jesus that it is not fearful and believing. (James 2:19) 

The father realizes that he has unbelief and asks for help from Jesus.  That’s our lesson.  We all need help from Jesus to overcome our doubts and fears that Satan and his “demons” send our way.  What demon do you need Jesus to help you with?  What is your source of unbelief?  Jesus has told us that HE CAN. The problem is… do we believe? ANYTHING is possible if a person believes.

God Bless!