If You Have Problems, Do This...

Have you ever told God how big your problems are? How about other people? Ok, I think that we have all been there. Is doing this good? Does it accomplish anything? I would say that deep down we know the answer is, “no,” but what should we do? What is a healthy response? There is a story in Mark chapter nine that I think can help us find the answer. Let’s take a look. (Mark 9:14-29)

When reading the Bible it is easy to look at the story written on the page, but I like to also think about the story leading up to the story. This man and his son might just be in fifteen verses but their story goes beyond that.

In this story, I see a man who loves his son, in fact, he probably works long hours, sometimes getting home late to provide for his son. He does all he can to make sure that his son has all that he needs. He is a good father. 

One day his son comes home sick and later that evening begins having a seizure. The boy is able to sleep through the night but the next day is unable to talk so his father takes him to the doctor. The doctors try everything that they can over several years but nothing seems to work. 

Eventually, the child tries to throw himself into the fire which makes his father worried on another level, so he takes him to the priests to see if there was anything they could do, but they too can do nothing to fix the problem.

The situation is now desperate. The man has spent a small fortune over several years and has exhausted all of his options. Now he is out of money, out of options, and almost out of hope he hears that Jesus is coming to his town. He thinks to himself, “Maybe if I can just get my son to Jesus He can heal him.” It was at least worth a try.

When they arrive there is already a huge crowd around Jesus. Not wanting to push his way through, the man sees Jesus’ disciples standing nearby, so se decides that since they are with Jesus they might be able to heal his son, so he takes him to the disciples but much to his surprise they cannot heal his son. 

Now he has only one option... Jesus and Jesus alone. 

(Allow me to pause for a second to mention that if you should ever find yourself in this situation, where Jesus is your only option, perhaps that is the best possible place you could find yourself.)

The man presses through the crowd and Jesus sees the commotion. “What is going on?” Jesus asks. The man gets through to the place where Jesus is standing and explains his situation. Jesus asks, “How long has this been going on?” The man replies, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or the water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us if you can.”

Jesus seems to be shocked by the man questioning His ability and responds, “What do you mean, ‘If I can?’ Anything is possible if a person believes.”

The man’s response here is what I want to focus on. He replies, “I do believe, but help my unbelief.”

There are so many things that the man could have said here. “I do believe, but you don’t know how many other people couldn’t do anything” “I do believe, but you don’t know how bad it is.” “I do believe, but you don’t know how much this hurts.”

Basically, the man’s argument could be summed up best like this, “...but you don’t understand.”

Have you ever felt like this man? I know I have. I want to tell God what hasn’t worked. I want Him to know how bad it is. I want to say how much it hurts. I just want God to understand, but in doing so I am forgetting the power of the One I am talking to.

The thing is my situation can never change His power, but His power can always change my situation. 

This man gets it, his response is, “But help my unbelief.” He chose to lay down his arguments, and remember the power of the One he came to see. He chose to trust God and you know what, he got his son back. I’ll be honest, I often leave with just my arguments.

So here is the challenge… this week, when you pray and talk to others, let your speech magnify His power instead of your situation.

Garrett