“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” It sounds like a contradiction, right? You believe and yet you have unbelief. But it’s very relatable because flawed and sinful humans don’t believe perfectly. We can say we believe but when things get dark or unexpected circumstances come crashing down upon us, it can oftentimes shine a light on areas where our belief is weak. This is what happened to the father who made this request of Jesus. The father’s son was possessed by a demon which would throw the boy into fits, paralyzing him and causing him to foam at the mouth and no one had been able to help.

“‘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 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!’” (Mark 9:21-24)

The man had to face his unbelief. His son had been like this for a long time, and no one had been able to help. The disappointments had led to a chink in this man’s faith, the circumstances with his son pointed out an area of weakness in his belief, so what did he do? He asked for Jesus’ help. Jesus can overcome our unbelief, and if we find ourselves faced with an area in which our faith is weak, we can ask Jesus to help us overcome that unbelief. Jesus told the man that anything is possible if a person believes, and He proves it and validates the mans’ belief by casting out the demon and saving the boy.

“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.” (Mark 9:25-27)

If we back up to the beginning of this scene, we find that some of Jesus’ disciples were already with the man. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain where they experienced Jesus’ transfiguration.

“Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.” (Mark 9:2-4) 

It is after this that the four men came down from the mountain and found a crowd gathered around the other disciples. In this crowd were religious leaders who were arguing with the disciples.

“‘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 this 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.’” (Mark 9:16-18) 

And we’re back to Jesus’ answer: anything is possible if a person believes. It comes down to our faith, to our belief in what God can do. When Peter couldn’t walk on the water, Jesus said, “You of little faith,” and when He heard that His disciples couldn’t cast out the spirit He said the same.

“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.’” (Mark 9:19) 

It takes belief and faith, and if we find ourselves like the father, doubting what God can do, we can pray as he said to Christ, “I do believe but help me to overcome my unbelief.” It’s a faith-strengthening prayer. Other worldviews and religions will shame or condemn a person for not having enough faith, but our God tells us we can ask for help with our faith because He is strong enough to overcome our unbelief.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed