Tony's Take
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

"I do believe.  Help my unbelief."

2/14/2018

0 Comments

 
In Mark 9, we see Jesus and some of his disciples coming down from the transfiguration, returning to the valley of every day as it were.  Immediately they are confronted with his disciples arguing with some scribes, a distraught father, and a possessed son.  Despite the other disciples best efforts (THEIR BEST EFFORTS), the son still had not been delivered.  Jesus’ reaction to his disciple's unbelief and lack of faith is rather harsh, but understandable;
“O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”                                                                                                                                                                       Mark 9:19 ESV
Think of it; here, nearing the end of three years walking, talking and living with Jesus, they still did not get it!  How obtuse or lacking in faith they must have been! 
How often have any of us used such language (even if only in our minds) directed toward another disciple of Jesus?  We, as a group (the church) far too often do ‘shoot our wounded’ instead of coming alongside them to support and encourage. 
In recent weeks, Kathy and I have been through some challenges that tore at our hearts and even our faith at times.  I remember crying out to God over and over for C.J., only to receive such dire news from the veterinarian that there was only one option left.  Yes, she was ‘just’ a cat, but these little creatures do put their paw prints on your heart, and after almost 13 years, she had become my precious little girl.  As I recorded earlier in my blog, it was with many tears that we bid C.J. goodbye. 

When the hand tremors ceased for a time, the rejoicing at what God had done (especially when Pastor Ethan’s lesson the next Sunday was an exclamation point on what had happened), but then they began to return.  Over a few days they would increase and decrease; my prayers, my crying out to God did reduce the recalcitrant tremors, but they did continue to increase until it was at the point where I had to revert to using a spoon to eat with once again.  After discussing this with Kathy, I began taking the Primidone again.  More and more I had started to identify with those apostles as they received the tongue lashing from Jesus.  After all, have I not walked with him these 30 years?  Haven’t I learned ANYTHING?

Then, reading further, I saw how Jesus spoke with the father;                                           
21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”                                                                                                                  Mark 9:21-23 ESV

Picture
The father, seeing how the disciples had been unable to deliver his son, plead with Jesus the most poignant prayer in Scripture, “But if you can do anything…” What is important to see, is not the lack of bold faith on the part of the father, but that Jesus dealt with him very gently.  The father’s response mirrors my own in many an occasion;
24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”  Mark 9:24 ESV
 
I do feel that I have failed a test, but how Jesus spoke to the father with his mixed message prayer is very reassuring to me.  Whenever any of us pray, it is often with a measure of unbelief.  Jesus can take that small bit of faith (mustard seed anyone?) and work with that.  For that, I am grateful to my King whose beneficence is beyond our understanding.

Grace is a wonderful thing.
 
The journey continues.

0 Comments
    Photo Business

    Author

    Former submarine sailor, paramedic and nurse who journeys toward the horizon ever hopeful, though at times less sure, of reaching that far place.  

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All
    Anniversary
    Band Of Brothers
    Business
    Cancer
    Cats
    Cat Theology
    Christ Mas
    Christ-mas
    Civil Rights
    COVID-19
    Dr. Martin Luther King
    Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
    Faith
    Family
    Gethsemane
    Grace
    Harborreins
    Heroes
    Hope
    Life And Death
    Lynch Syndrome
    Military
    New Year
    Orphans
    Our Children's Place
    Overlooked Victim Of Crime
    Palm Sunday
    Peaceful Protest
    Photography
    Post Traumatic Stress
    Power Of Words
    Prejudice
    Prison
    Protest
    Racism
    Second Chances
    Struggle
    The Corrall
    Theology
    Time
    Triple Fork Creek
    Uncertaintly
    Unemployment
    Unsung Heroes
    USO NC
    USO-NC
    VAMC Durham
    Veteran Suicide
    Wetland Conservation
    Wonder
    Yoga Warrior

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly