23 Mar God Knows You Will Doubt

It’s one of the more jarring passages in all the Bible. Jesus and three disciples have just descended from a mountain where He displayed the full glory of God to the trio in the transfiguration. Jesus discovers His disciples were unable to heal a demon-possessed boy. Jesus tells them their failure was due to their lack of faith. Jesus then approaches the boy’s father:

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Mark 9:21-25 (NIV)

The father’s words to Jesus should comfort and encourage you: “I do believe, help me with my unbelief!” And Jesus did. He healed the man’s son. Jesus knows you will doubt. So it’s important for you to get real about your faith. It won’t be perfect. You will doubt.

Be real with yourself about your perfectly imperfect faith. That way you won’t beat yourself up when you doubt. Instead confess your doubt to God and bask in the assurance that you are forgiven.

Be real with God about your perfectly imperfect faith. Spoiler alert: He already knows. But confessing it to Him displays humility that pleases Him.

Be real with others about your perfectly imperfect faith. When you try to “fake it until you make it,” you’re just a fake. Others will see it quickly. God already knows it’s not real. So, the only person you’re fooling is yourself.

Besides, being vulnerable and letting others know you doubt will comfort and encourage them. Display the model that the prophet Habakkuk left us. We don’t have to doubt God and we don’t have to doubt ourselves:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV.

You’ll never be perfect at this, but when you trust God more than His gifts, your circumstances, or yourself, your imperfectly perfect faith will grow more perfect each day. May this comfort and encourage you today, in whatever you’re going through!

Pastor Jerry Bader