Mark 9:14-29 recounts the journey of a father who suffered year after year searching for his son’s cure. His son was tormented by an evil spirit which manifested on a regular basis causing violent seizures. Oftentimes the demon forced the son into fire or water in order to kill him.
This father watched his beloved son suffer for years. I can imagine he tried everything to heal him. He must have lived in terror just waiting for the next episode; constantly worried that one day he would wake up and his son would be dead. The anxiety and the perpetual fear of the unknown must have been overwhelming.
He came to Jesus. After exhausting every resource and finding no result, perhaps he finally found the answer. But Jesus wasn’t there…How disappointing. Then he asked the disciples for help. Things went from bad to worse. Not only did the disciples not heal the boy, the spirit manifested and now there was an audience. The crowd grew larger and larger, watching the spectacle of the disciples trying to cast this demon out. Arguments and yelling began to erupt and the whole scene must have made a hurting and disappointed father even less hopeful.
Then Jesus steps on the scene. Immediately the crowd is overwhelmed with awe and instead of watching the spectacle, they run to greet Him. The disciples bring the boy to Jesus. Immediately the boy goes into a convulsion and falls to the ground writhing and foaming at the mouth. Instead of reacting, Jesus took the time to talk to the father about his son’s condition.
During the conversation a transformation starts to take place. The father who has been disappointed time and time again with promises of a cure begins to have a glimmer of hope. He asks Jesus, “have mercy on us and help us, if You can?”
In verses 23-24 we see the response: “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!”
Because of past disappointments and disillusions of a cure, the father had little hope. He came to Christ believing for a cure, but the little hope he had was dashed when Christ was not there. His disciples further killed his dreams by their ineffectiveness.
When he saw Christ face to face, his hope was rekindled, but doubt still clouded his mind.
What about you? Has disillusionment and disappointment caused you to doubt God’s care for you?
Personally, I have trusted God with many areas of my life. I have had faith for the big things, but when it came down to it, I did not trust Him with my future.
I have been disappointed time and time again. I have been disillusioned. Because I felt let down by God in regards to my marriage, I did not think He cared if I had a companion. I did not trust Him with my love story.
Just like the man in this narrative, Christ has dealt with this area of my heart one on one. He reminds me that in spite of my past disappointments and failed efforts, He not only can but He will. This process has forced me to draw closer to God. I have to continue to remind my impatient heart to wait on the Lord and His time.
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