Mark 9:24

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

4100 pisteúō (from 4102/pístis, “faith,” derived from 3982 /peíthō, “persuade, be persuaded”) – believe (affirm, have confidence); used of persuading oneself (= human believing) and with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord (= faith-believing).

You know what I really love about the exchange between the father of the demon possessed boy and Jesus?  I LOVE that the father confesses his belief, and in the same breath, his lack of belief!  I love it because it captures so well the angst I have so very often.  I know in my head, I believe, he can do, he can provide, he does love me, he has my best in mind.  BUT, I think in my heart, he may not do what I want – need, this time he might not provide, he loves me sort-of, he has everyone else’s best in mind too and I may be low on the list.  

Really, if I am honest, those heart thoughts hide deep behind my faith, my belief.  So, going back to why I love this verse, Jesus doesn’t scold the boy’s father for his belief/lack of belief!  He doesn’t belittle him, he doesn’t say come back when your faith arises to the level I expect it to be for such a miracle, he doesn’t spend time giving him a sermon on how to increase his faith.  Jesus just goes with where the father’s faith IS at that moment and ACTS.   

I looked up the Greek word for belief or faith in this text and it is pasteuo, from pistis, which, in the Strong’s dictionary, means “being persuaded by the Lord.” I see this as having faith means we have been persuaded by God. It also leads me to believe that my unbelief is still due to areas of my life where I have not yet been persuaded.  Totally makes sense, right?  Faith isn’t a place we get to, it is a process in which we are being persuaded by God that he IS all he says he IS!  Through every conversation, every prayer, every answer and unanswered prayer, and in the waiting of an answer, it is all the process of a persuasion going on by God to TRUST in HIM!  That is why faith isn’t something we can do, it is something God is doing – persuading.  It, to me, is like he is wooing me (YOU) to himself by this journey of “watch me, hear me, know me because I am wooing you towards believing in me – I am in the process of persuading you.”  And, because it is all from HIS end, it won’t or rather can’t fail and also importantly, I am not condemned for my lack of being persuaded. Our GOOD Father is well aware that we have an enemy, the Father of lies who is also working to persuade us that our God is not able, won’t answer, doesn’t care, is too busy, isn’t trustworthy and doesn’t have our best in mind! Sound familiar Eve?

The next time you and I have that belief/unbelief let’s not condemn ourselves for it, He doesn’t.  Rather, let’s admit it and then watch what He does to persuade us of his work and love in our lives.  

Things may work out or they may not, either way, good or bad, both scenarios are where we need to be. In both good and difficult times we see him working in ways that we would not have understood before.  We are persuaded (have belief) of His presence and power after walking through both the good AND the bad. 

 Lord, help persuade me more and more of your power, your love for me and your commitment to every detail of my life – I believe, help me with my unbelief – faith.