There is an interesting story in the book of Mark. It’s one that deserves we take notice.
Jesus has just returned to where the majority of His disciples are, as well as the crowds. He had left them alone, taking only John, James, and Peter to a mountain in which they witnessed Jesus, Elijah and Moses (the transfiguration). They return to a crowd that is arguing.
Mark 9: 16 – 29 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
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 the 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 and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked Him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
Make no mistake. There are some things that CAN ONLY be changed here on earth by the power of prayer. Prayer is so powerful. We often forget that we were given this as a tool to use.
Maybe you have had some demons in your life that you feel unable to battle against. Perhaps they don’t make you foam at the mouth and fall to the floor, but make no mistake, they ARE trying to kill you. Maybe it’s a spiraling depression. Maybe it’s an addiction to alcohol, drugs or sex. Maybe it’s something else… But these demons are destructive. And make no mistake they are powerful. Maybe even too powerful to overcome – that is until we hit our knees and exercise the power of prayer!
It’s amazing to me, and important to note, that this young boy is not the one asking or praying for his deliverance. His father does. This boy can’t. He is so caught up in all of it. So, the father comes on his behalf to the great teacher and asks him “if he can” heal his son. It’s as if the father has basically lost all of his hope. The pain and sorrow of watching his son like this for years has worn on him. In some sort of last-ditch effort, this father manages to bring his son to where all the crowds were in a somewhat hopeless attempt that someone could do something for his boy.
Jesus isn’t turned away by this father. He sees his heart. He gets his pain. He leads the father to a point of decision and pushes his faith buttons. “What do you mean, if I can? Anything is possible if a person believes.”
Can you put yourself in the place of the father? What did the teacher just say? ANYTHING is possible? Even this? And all he has to do is believe? Is it any wonder that he cries out, “I DO BELIEVE, but help me to overcome my unbelief!”
Friends, there are things that seem so overwhelming, so big, that we do not think that our LORD can even help. It’s just not true. We are called to believe and trust in the LORD, and we are called to pray.
LORD, please help us not to fall into the trap of unbelief. We know that You are able and willing to heal and transform us. We know that you desire us to trust You and know that You are with us. Help our unbelief! When we begin to doubt – when we begin to fall into discouragement – will You stop us and remind us of the truth. Thank You for not sending us away or ignoring us when we begin to lose hope. Thank You that just as You showed us in Mark today, You champion for us by reminding us that anything is possible if we believe. Anything. In Jesus’ name,
Blessings!