Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:00 — 4.1MB)
I find that frequently my faith is like a roller-coaster: up and down. Some things are easier to believe than others. Some days are easier than others. Can you relate to that?
Well, interestingly there are many people in the Bible who struggled with the same thing. Abraham had faith to believe that God could give him a son in his old age and lead him to a promised land he had never seen. But he didn’t have faith to believe God could deliver him from his enemies, so he lied about Sarah. Abraham had great faith in one area, and little or no faith in another.
I think of Peter who had enormous faith to step out of a boat and walk on the water to Jesus. But then that faith weakened as he looked at the waves beneath him, and he started to sink. Peter had great faith one moment and none the next.
When you read the Psalms, you realize that King David certainly had his share of the ups and downs of faith. He’s full of praise and joy over a victory one day, and the next day he wonders if God has forgotten him and he’s going to be killed. These examples tell me that it’s possible to have some faith and some unbelief at the same time.
In Mark 9 we read about the man who brought his son to Jesus for healing and said, “…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 22b-24). And in spite of the fact that the father’s faith was tentative, Jesus healed his son.
Jesus didn’t tell this man, “Well, when your faith is perfect, come back and I’ll heal your son.” No, Jesus heard his confession of unbelief and his cry for help and healed his son.
Doesn’t that encourage you? We don’t have to have perfect faith in order to come to Jesus with our needs and requests. You can bring the little bit of faith you have and ask him to help you overcome the huge area where your faith is weak.
So, wherever your faith is weak today, confess it to the Lord and then ask him to help you there in that unbelief area. He will, and he’ll honor the faith you exercise.