Mark 9:22-27: a reflection

22Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” 25When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” 26After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead, so much that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him up; and he arose.

A desperate father brings his afflicted son to Jesus, and he is nearly out of hope. If you can do anything, he pleads, have compassion on us and help us. Jesus gently turns the doubt back to him: If you can! All things are possible for one who believes. And the father cries out one of the most honest prayers in all the Gospels: I believe; help my unbelief! He has faith, real but weak, mixed with doubt, and he brings that very mixture honestly to Jesus, who then heals his son.

Notice the honesty of the father's cry: I believe; help my unbelief. He does not pretend to a faith he does not fully have; nor does he give up because his faith is weak. He confesses both together: the faith he has, and the unbelief that still clings to him, and he asks Jesus to help even that. And Jesus does not turn him away for the weakness of his faith; he hears the honest cry and acts.

That is deeply reassuring for all of us whose faith is real but imperfect. We may think we must have a strong, unmixed faith before we can come to Jesus, and despair because our faith is weak, shot through with doubt. But this father shows us another way: to come honestly, with the faith we have, and to ask Jesus to help our unbelief. Jesus accepts and works with imperfect faith, faith that believes and yet struggles to believe. When your faith feels weak and mixed with doubt, do not pretend, and do not give up. Bring your real but imperfect faith honestly to Jesus, and pray the father's prayer: I believe; help my unbelief. He will not turn you away, but will meet your honest faith and help even your unbelief.

Lord Jesus, the desperate father cried to you, I believe; help my unbelief, bringing his real but weak faith, mixed with doubt, honestly to you, and you healed his son. Thank you that you did not turn him away for the weakness of his faith, but heard his honest cry and acted. This reassures me, whose faith is real but imperfect. I can think I must have a strong, unmixed faith before I come to you, and despair because my faith is weak, shot through with doubt. But this father shows me another way: to come honestly, with the faith I have, and to ask you to help my unbelief. Thank you that you accept and work with imperfect faith, faith that believes and yet struggles to believe. When my faith feels weak and mixed with doubt, help me not to pretend and not to give up, but to bring my real but imperfect faith honestly to you, and pray, I believe; help my unbelief. Meet my honest faith, Lord, and help even my unbelief.