“…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!”’
Mark 9:21-24
In his book Why Jesus, Ravi Zacharia asserts that “We have become accustomed to abundance and the bliss of multiple choice. We have now a spiritual supermarket before us from which we choose whatever form of spirituality or philosophy we fancy.” Most times it’s not God or doubts we have trouble with, it’s our wounds and hurts. Many people are in a plight similar to that of the unbelieving father in Mark 9:23-24. Our hurts make it difficult to believe and often rule us instead.
According to 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Christianity has one central and incredible idea, and that is we comprehend dimly. This does not limit God’s power. It only limits our ability to find meaning in our obscurities. We have to recognize that the wisdom of God isn’t limited to our perspective. The writer of Hebrews says faith is the evidence of things not seen. Therefore expecting God to do the impossible things is to believe things that only the one who sees the whole picture can do. Instead of wandering off seeking an alternative spirituality or philosophy to unlock the puzzle of life, let us admit that humanly we don’t fully know everything, outside of faith. “Canadians know there are two kinds of ice: thin and thick. You can have very little faith in thick ice and it will hold you up just fine; you can have enormous faith in thin ice and you will drown,” said Lynn Anderson¹. What foundation is your faith invested in?
In his song ‘Help Me Believe’ from his 2007 album, The Fight of My Life, Kirk Franklin opens up to God about a season of doubts amidst his struggles relationally and emotionally:
“
I wanna believe but I'm having a hard time seeing past what I see right now
I wanna be free but when I try to fly I realize I don't know how
No one showed me how
Wish I could see that this mess I'm in will really work out for my good
You said it would
So if You can hear me can You give me a sign 'Cause I don't feel You like I should
Please if You could
My faith is almost gone…"
“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”(2 Cor 12:9-10)².
Genuine spirituality draws out our doubts, faith shines the light on them.
¹ Strobel, Lee. The Case for Faith. Zondervan Publishing Company, 2000.
² The Bible. New International Version.