Help My Unbelief!
The immensity of the stories here is overwhelming. One part of the story happening to one person is believable. But the cumulative effect…
Imagine your husband crippled to the state of a toddler by a stroke, your house destroyed by fire, and your daughter killed in a motorbike accident leaving behind a baby which you now need to care for, all within a short timeframe and in poverty.
Or to be 18, abused by a drug addicted partner, caring for a disabled child and a newborn with $4 to your name and a tin shack for a home.
To be giving birth in the rain because your house has no roof, while your toddler is in the throws of a fever.
To have your partner leave you one week after giving birth. Or to have him abandon you and move in with your neighbor during the last few months of your pregnancy. How will you work to live when you have a newborn?
To be 16 and pregnant. Only having sought a boyfriend because both your parents are in jail and you desperately need to be looked after.
To be 11 and pregnant.
To be violently abused by your partner whenever you do not want to appease his desires. Bruises all over your arms and abdomen. And you are pregnant.
To have just discovered that your beloved husband has been sexually abusing your daughters leaving them traumatized. And one of them is only 5 years old. The other is 9 and has been abused for 5 years without you knowing. In fact your husband threatened your daughters that he would kill you if they ever told you or anyone else. And now you’re pregnant with his 5th child, kicked out of your in-laws family home, while your husband is in prison. How are you going to provide for your children?
These are some of the stories of women who come through our clinic doors.
Rather than face the truths of these stories, my heart wants to block them out and believe they are made up, or at least exaggerated. Because how can anyone survive that much suffering? It has taken me months to accept that these stories and many more are indeed true. These are real people, facing intense suffering, in a world of poverty where they and their children live meal to meal.
Where is the hope for all these precious people? How can I actually make difference in such an ocean of suffering?
Jesus encounters such a case in Mark 9. A child is possessed by a demon so violent that it frequently tries to kill him by drowning or fire. Imagine this as a parent! This demon has rendered the child unable to communicate, and severely medically impoverished by violent seizures.
Jesus has just been up on a mountain communing with His Father during the glorious transfiguration: an incredible spiritual mountaintop experience! While He was up there, His disciples tried to exorcise this demon, but, unlike other times in their ministry, they were not successful. The boy’s father is losing hope. If Jesus’ followers are unable to help his child when they could normally help others, than perhaps Jesus didn’t have the power to either.
Jesus, while watching the child violently seizing (notice he takes time to understand the situation before jumping in and healing straight away) asks the father how long this suffering has been going on. For many years is the answer – how this family have suffered! The father pleads: “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.”
“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (v22-24, NLT)
I do believe… I believe in theory but don’t believe He would actually perform that miracle I’m not even brave enough to wishfully think about. I believe He is capable, but not likely to step miraculously into this situation. I believe He could, but that He won’t, simply because ‘miracles’ don’t happen that often these days.
Why? Why is my view for God so small?
Yet Jesus reaches into the man’s self-confessed unbelief and powerfully answers his plead. He takes the tiny seed of faith the man has and reaches into the depths of spiritual warfare and tells that demon who is King. And although at first it looks like the process of getting the demon out has killed the boy, and perhaps it did, Jesus takes the child by the hand and helps him up.
“Anything is possible if a person believes.”
Anything. Everything. Because He is the King of World War Eternal. Because He battled the deepest darkest powers of evil on the cross and was victorious (1)! Because He paid the price for our sins so Satan can not dare to lay a claim on us anymore!
You see, God delights to show mercy (2). He’s waiting ready for it to be asked for, to be accepted. He’s waiting to see if I will exercise my faith and imagine the impossible. To pray for the impossible. He’s waiting for me to throw myself at His feet and cry out for His Glory to break through into the dark places around me and within me.
Everything is possible. For the one who believes. Because He invites us to join Him in this Spiritual War.
Just as this boy is possessed by a demon, so too are there many demons around us, and we all know of how dark spiritual powers can subtly influence us. Demons can be wolves in sheep’s clothing, the Father of lies has taught them how to deceive (3). Exorcision may be painful, but Jesus promises to take us by our hand and help us to our feet again. Restored. Redeemed.
And this spiritual battle must be fought in spirit. This is shown when Jesus tells His disciples later in verse 29 that they hadn’t been able to exorcise the demon because they hadn’t prayed! They were trying to blaze ahead on their own… this is so very familiar to me! So often I’ll jump into action – even Christian action – without talking to The Boss first. Living as a Christian but without abiding in Jesus. True faith begins with abiding. With dwelling in Him and conforming my heart to beat as His does.
This spiritual war can only be won through heartfelt prayer and calling on God to help me in my weakness, so that I may help others in their weakness to turn to Him too (4). The boy’s father acknowledged his weakness and offered up the little seed of faith that he did have. And how Jesus grew that seed! That seed that started with giving up all he was and choosing to Abide in Jesus.
So I’m challenged to pray bigger and bolder prayers for the people behind these stories. For myself. That the impossible might be reality. For miraculous complete healing. For restored relationships that are completely broken. For the very real physical needs of daily food and shelter.
Mostly that God’s Mighty Glory may break through the darkness in a tangible way. That the Gospel we represent may be authenticated in undeniable Acts of God. That we will have eyes to see the spiritual battle raging all around us. And the courage to speak against it.
And yes, my prayers may not be answered with incredible visible miracles. But they might be. While we have been promised trouble in this world, we have also been promised that Jesus overcomes this world (5). And Even If they are not answered as I wish, my hope is Him alone. And I know He has a purpose and a plan even though I can not see it (6). But I give to Him my humble seed of faith, and pray He will use it to further His Kingdom right where I am.
I do believe! By Your Grace help my unbelief!
References:
Comments