“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
“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!”
{Mark 9:22-24}
Many a man is eulogized with the compliment: He was a man of great faith.
No one is remembered with the statement: He was a man of “if you can” faith.
It just doesn’t sound strong and pious. “If you can” faith sounds feeble, smaller than a mustard seed, even.
If you can–
riddled and shot through with doubts.
If you can–
caught in the here and now, the overwhelming distraction of circumstances.
If you can–
strapped into humanity’s straightjacket of impotency.
If you can–
grasping a last-chance-hope that Someone could, possible help…maybe.
“If you can” is every desperate cry rolled into one wave, one prayer.
It is the answer to every question and doubt.
Even the foundational questions we pose to God every day: Do you exist? Do you care? Can you help?
Some of us feel lost and wandering.
Some feel unredeemable, unworthy.
Some feel insignificant.
Some feel dirty.
Some of us feel confused and doubtful.
Some of us feel needy and embarrassed.
Some of us feel desperate and frustrated.
Some of us are angry.
But WHO are we talking to?
WHERE are we taking our pain?
That is the power in If You Can faith–where we place it.
Because the power is in the undaunted, unchangeable answer: Anything is possible if you believe!
And belief we can do. Belief starts with “If” sometimes and ends with the open-handed, empty-hearted expectation.
A breathless waiting. And faith will meet the if with possibility.
And He will help with your unbelief. He will provide peace and healing.
Can Jesus really do that?
Well, he said, anything is possible. He’s perfectly okay with your “If You Can” faith.
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Do you struggle with faith and unbelief? Is this idea of “If you can” faith encouraging?
Will you go to Jesus with the unbelief of If and wait for his answer?
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Filed under Faith, life, Stories from Scripture, Uncategorized
Alyssa Santos
