You have been a Christian for a while now. You go to church regularly, hear your pastor preaching, memorize Bible verses, and sing of God’s faithfulness. Somehow you are confident you have mastered the ability needed to trust the Lord at all times. Until…
- You lose your dream job.
- You start dealing with anxiety and doubt.
- You move to a new town with no friends or family around.
- You grieve the loss of a loved one.
- Your long-life friend betrays you.
- You experience heart break.
- You receive news of a negative diagnosis.
- God does not give you what you want.
- The answer to your prayer is taking too long.
You name it.
Over time, that confidence you had in your own ability to believe God completely shatters. And you finally realize one thing: You can trust God; as long as all areas of your life are under your control.
Key notes
- Our very nature refuses to seek the Lord and believe in Him.
- Our simultaneous believe and unbelief reveals that we can never get enough of Christ.
- When we come before the Lord recognizing our inability to believe, He meets us right where we are and reminds us: My grace is sufficient for you.
- The faith to trust the Lord during uncertain times comes from His Spirit alone.
Why is it so hard to trust God in uncertain times?
The simple answer to this question is: because we are sinners. Our very nature refuses to seek the Lord and believe in Him. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are so quick to rely on our own efforts to try to fix a situation. We are truly convinced that we know what is best for us.
I don’t know about you, but I am a planner and an over-achiever. When something does not go as expected, I immediately take the reins and guide myself to the easiest and fastest way out. I might have the desire to turn to the Lord and seek His presence. I try to remember all those verses that talk about trusting God, but my mind goes blank. Instead, I turn inward and say “I need to fix this problem ASAP”. Once again, I want to be the ruler of my life.
You would think that after so many years of walking with God, we should be able to have some inner strength to choose Him above everything else. We are not supposed to struggle with the same attitudes and sins. Having faith in God should get easier.
The truth is, we easily forget what God has done for us in the past. The ways He has already revealed his faithfulness to us despite our unbelief. In the words of the apostle Paul “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Rom. 7:15).
Is there rescue for my unbelief? – A cry for mercy
The gospel of Mark narrates the encounter of Jesus and a father in need of rescue.
This father brings his son to Jesus because he is struggling with something bigger than him. He is desperate and doesn’t know what else to do. His son had been tormented by an unclean spirit from childhood (9:21) and nothing seems to free the boy.
There is much we could say about this story. We could look at the disciple’s inability to cast out the spirit or Jesus’s frustration with the present generation. All this due to human inability and a shaky faith. However, I want us to focus on the conversation between Jesus and the boy’s father.
Once he brings his case to Jesus, he then says:
“But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (9:22-24)
This is the confession Jesus longs to hear from us but the one we refuse to say. Whenever we turn to ourselves convinced that we have the power to believe in God’s promises; we will despair.
Jesus tells us that “all things are possible for one who believes”. For one who believes not in human strength but in the Gospel alone.
In my human weakness, His grace is sufficient.
When we come before the Lord recognizing our inability to believe, He meets us right where we are and reminds us: My grace is sufficient for you (2Cor. 12:9).
If you are tired or ashamed of bringing the same weaknesses and struggles to God, take heart and know that this is the life of a Christian. Our simultaneous believe and unbelief reveals that we can never get enough of Christ.
Despite our desire to do good, we will fail God one way or another. This will always be true.
But just as that, Christ will meet us with grace every time and reminds us that we are already forgiven and saved in Him. This too will always be true.
This is the beauty of being both sinners, and saints.
The confession “I believe; help my unbelief!” is met with compassion. The faith to trust the Lord during uncertain times comes from His Spirit alone. He produces faith inside our sinful hearts and reminds us that in Christ we have a promise of salvation and eternal life. This promise, dear friend, is way more powerful than any temporary suffering.
Jesus does not promise you a life free of affliction, but if you are going through a time of uncertainty rest in the truth that He has already overcome this world (John 16:33). Your cry for mercy is always met with abundant grace.
My Prayer for You
“Dear Father, I pray for the woman reading this. You know her heart is afflicted and weary. I pray that in her unbelief and doubt you remind her of the hope find in Christ. Comfort her with your grace and love. Hear her cry for mercy and root her in the truth of your salvation. Lead her to surrender her human efforts and to rest in your promises for her. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
For Reflection
Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
And John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- God’s power is made perfect in your weaknesses. How does this truth changes how you face difficulties?
- What does abide in Christ look like in your daily life?