What Do You Base Your Faith On? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley

            Do you base your faith on what other people do or what the Holy Spirit tells you either through direct revelation or God’s Word?

            In Mark 9:14-28, a man brought his demon possessed son to Jesus for healing but he wasn’t quite sure Jesus could pull it off because Jesus’ disciples had tried to cast the demon out and failed. The man says to Jesus, If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”  Jesus replied, “If you can?  Everything is possible for him who believes. The boy’s father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

            Like many of us, the boy’s father had allowed human failure to weaken his faith.  Do we base our faith on human reactions, words and shortcomings rather than on the truth presented in the Bible? We forget that with God “all things are possible.”

            Jesus clearly exhibited his frustration with human nature in this passage.  After the man told Jesus how the disciples had failed to cast his son’s demon out, Jesus replied, O unbelieving generation.  How long shall I stay with you?  How long shall I put up with you?  Those were harsh words.  Didn’t the disciples make an attempt at casting the demon out?  Couldn’t Jesus give them an “A” for effort?  But later on when the disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive the demon out, Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  

            Remember where Jesus was before this healing account?  He was on a mountaintop with Peter, James and John. Moses and Elijah left their heavenly dwelling place to join the group as Jesus was transfigured before them.  They had all heard the voice of God saying, This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him! Jesus and those with him had just experienced the Father’s glory.  But when Jesus came down off his mountaintop experience, he returned to the same old problems he had dealt with before.  There was disbelief, arguing, and I believe Jesus was frustrated because his disciples tried to cast the demon out through their own power, rather than through God’s power.  They had forgotten what he had taught them.  They forgot to pray. 

            Human failure led to a weakening of a man’s faith.  Today, disappointing situations can do the same to our faith.  In my case, I know I waver at times because circumstances don’t support what I think the Holy Spirit is telling me. However, like the man in this healing account, deep down I want to still believe. I just need Jesus to help me with my unbelief. 

            What about you?  Do you doubt the power of Jesus at times?  Does your faith take a hit because of human shortcomings? Do you believe that with God all things are possible?  If not, it’s OK to ask the LORD to help you with your unbelief. He will find ways to build your faith back up to where it needs to be.  

            Remember, faith is not hoping God can but knowing He will.