Help My Unbelief

Mark 9:14 (NET) When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 A member of the crowd said to him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.” 19 He answered them, “You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me.” 20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

You unbelieving generation

Later, the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the spirit. He said, “This kind can only come out by prayer.” When he referred to the crowd as an unbelieving generation, he meant they were faithless as opposed to faithful. They were a faithless generation because they did not regularly and fervently seek God in prayer.

Pray is more about listening than talking

In Matthew 6, when Jesus gave instructions for prayer, concluding with the Lord’s prayer, he said, “ . . . whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.” God wants us to do more than speak to him when we pray. He wants us to listen. Carefully. Sometimes, the best prayers are the ones with the fewest words.

God is heard best in quiet

When we are quiet we hear God better. In times of quiet, God is able to break though the clutter in our thoughts and give us instructions. A quiet mind requires the consistent discipline of seeking God in a place of quiet. Use the Scriptures to direct your thoughts, instruct your mind and quiet your spirit. Then listen for the still small voice that can best be heard in quiet.

This was a faithless generation because they kept busy with the minutia of the Pharisee’s laws, but forgot to listen to the voice of God.

If you want more faith, listen. Carefully.