Help Thou My Unbelief

February 16th, 2025

Mark 9:14-29 – “And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. 15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Faith is easy on the mountaintop. It’s in the valleys that it’s tested.

In Mark 9, we step into a dramatic scene. Jesus has just come down from the mount of transfiguration with Peter, James, and John. While they were away, the other disciples faced a challenge—they had attempted to cast out a demon from a young boy but failed. A crowd gathered, the scribes questioned them, and tension filled the air. Then Jesus arrived.
A desperate father approached Him and pleaded, “Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit … I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.” (Mark 9:17-18)

Jesus’ response may seem harsh at first: “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.” (Mark 9:19)

But before we criticize the disciples too quickly, let’s reflect—how many times have we doubted God after seeing Him work in our lives? How often have we let fear, circumstances, and discouragement weaken our faith?

Faith is everything to the believer. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” Faith is the engine of the Christian life. It’s the strength behind our daily walk, and the lens through which we navigate life’s challenges. Yet, even with all we know and have seen, we still find ourselves struggling to trust Him fully.

Let’s examine three key lessons from this passage:

1. Faith is Challenged in the Valley

The disciples had been on the mountaintop with Jesus before, witnessing His miracles and power. But now, in the valley, their faith wavered. The same is true for us.

Mountaintop moments—where God’s presence is clear and His power undeniable—are wonderful. But faith is forged in the valleys of hardship. Psalm 23:4 reminds us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”

The disciples had cast out demons before (Mark 6:13), but this time, they failed. What changed? Their faith was being tested, and they were relying on their past experiences rather than fresh dependence on God.

Many times, we do the same. We remember past victories, but when a new challenge arises, we hesitate. Instead of trusting God, we wonder if He will come through again. The truth is, valleys reveal where our faith truly stands.

2. Faith is Weakened by Doubt

When the father first brought his son to the disciples, he likely had hope. But after watching them fail, doubt crept in. So even when he turned to Jesus, his faith wavered:
"If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." (Mark 9:22)

Do you see the doubt? If you can do anything…This man was standing before the Son of God—the One who had healed lepers, calmed storms, and raised the dead—and yet he wasn’t sure if Jesus could help.

Before we judge him too harshly, let’s ask ourselves: How often do we pray with the same uncertainty? Lord, if You can heal this… If You can provide… If You can restore…

But Jesus turned the question back on him: "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23)

The issue was never about Jesus’ ability—it was about the father’s faith. And it’s the same with us. Doubt shifts our focus from God’s power to our problems. It makes us question whether God will work instead of trusting that He is able.

3. Faith Strengthens Through Dependence on God

The father’s response is one of the most honest prayers in Scripture: "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24) This wasn’t a perfect faith. It was a struggling faith, a desperate faith. But it was real. And Jesus honored it. He commanded the spirit to leave, and instantly, the boy was set free.

Faith isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about dependence. True faith isn’t just acknowledging that God exists – it’s relying on Him completely.

That’s why Jesus later told His disciples, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29) They had been operating in their strength instead of seeking God.

Where Is Your Faith Today?

Like the disciples, we all face moments when our faith is tested. Like the father, we all struggle with doubt. But the good news is, Jesus meets us where we are.

If you’re in a valley today, trust that God is with you. If doubt has crept in, turn back to Him. And if your faith feels weak, cry out as the father did: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

God isn’t looking for perfect faith – He’s looking for dependent faith. When we bring our doubts, struggles, and weaknesses to Him, He strengthens us.

So, what are you trusting God for today? Will you believe that He is able?

All things are possible to him that believeth.