Monday 24 February 2020

Help Me In My Unbelief

 
You know how it's like. When all is well in life and you feel at peace and confident. It's easy then to wave your hands in the air, sing "Halleluiah" or such like Praise Song, and tell everyone how good and great is Our Lord.

But what happens when things aren't so good? When they are bad? In fact when they're very bad? Very bad indeed?

Do we still jump up and down praising God? We should ... but do we do it? Always?

Or does a tiny little bit of doubt creep into our mind, and it slowly grows as big as the devil's smile?

Our human nature dictates that at times we do doubt and worry. It's how we're made. It's how God created us. And He knows too well that it's our human failings that come to the fore when the pressure is on.

We may pray and pray, and then pray some more. But then ... nothing. No response from God or from Anyone else out there. It's like talking to a phone that has been cut off.

We ask others to pray for us and our situation. They promise to do so. But still nothing. No One seems to be listening on the other end of the phone.

Our doubts grow and the devil smiles some more.

We ask whether God is really there. Does He exist? Is it all an imagination? Are we alone to our fate and our destiny as the world goes round and the years pile on to our shoulders?

When we're at our wit's end with doubts, fears and worries. When we feel that we're losing our Faith and the very beliefs we've held on to over periods of time; that's when in effect our Faith is being strengthened.

The very fact that we're still praying, or we're asking someone else to pray for us because we're too tired and disheartened; this fact alone is itself proof that we believe in something or Someone.

We wouldn't pray if there was no One there to listen. The very fact that prayers are still being said proves that deep within our souls there's still a very tiny flame still burning ... still hoping ... still daring to believe. Despite all our doubts and troubles there's still a teeny weeny little bit of belief. It may be smaller than half a mustard seed. But it's still there.    

All our pains, our worries and our troubles serve to strengthen our Faith, however small it is right now.

As the man said to Jesus: "I believe, Lord; help my unbelief". (Mark 9:24).

The man believed in something or Someone, however vague and confused his belief was, but that was enough for Jesus to take pity on him and to respond.

We've all got different amounts of Faith and Beliefs ... assuming they can be measured as such. Some of us can undergo great difficulties and pains and their Faith remains steadfast and an example to many. Others crumble and tumble at the first hurdle and break down to almost nothing.

God knows that. He knows us all and He knows our capabilities and our propensity to be tested. Read this bit from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians a couple of times.

“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out”. (1 Corinthians Chapter 10 Verse 13).


God will not allows us to be tested beyond our capabilities. He is not in the business of losing souls ... least of all His own followers. He'd leave ninety-nine safely praying and go out looking for the one wandering away in a daze.

When we ask God to give us Faith ... to "help our unbelief"; He doesn't give us a magic pill to increase our Faith, or wave a magic wand to make it happen.

He allows a situation to develop to give us an opportunity to trust Him more and so increase our Faith in Him.

Wow ... that's complicated.

He allows a situation to happen which makes us trust Him more ... to increase our unbelief ... to increase our Faith.

I once asked someone how come he had such great Faith. He replied that in life he'd been through so many bad situations where he knew that God was there every time helping him.

That made me feel smaller than half a mustard seed.

20 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. There are times I have felt like that father who said, "I believe. Help my unbelief." I look at that like this: The father saying I have 4" of faith. help it to become 12. God is in the faith building business not breaking it down (unless it only in ourselves). You have said some good words there today Victor. Thanks.

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  3. Victor, excellent thoughts today... Faith requires Trust...
    We will experience difficult roads... Sometimes those roads are longer than we would like. Sometimes those roads are from our own choosing where we have ignored the warning signs... Sometimes those roads are simply the result of living in a world that has fallen... However, when my focus is on the road... I have missed the point. My focus should really be on the journey... Am I becoming a better person. Are my reactions to the roads positive or negative. Life is an incredible journey with mountain tops and with deep valleys. The real question I have to ask myself is at the end of the journey, am I who God wants me to be?

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    1. Very wise words, Ryan. Thank you.

      God bless always.

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  4. With everything that has been thrown in my direction as of late, Victor, I so needed your words and inspiration here today. I firmly believe that our trials are meant to help lean into God all the more. The evil one may think he's having a hay-day when we're feeling at the end of our rope, but God will surely reach down and hold onto us for dear life.
    Blessings, my friend!

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    1. Yes Martha. What you say is very comforting to me. Thank you so much.

      God bless you and your family, Martha.

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  5. Some days - like today - it feels as though you can see right nside my mind; in my heart. And I thank Him for communicating through your words!

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    1. You are so kind, Mevely. Thank you. God is only a prayer aways, always willing to help you.

      May He bless you and your family.

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  6. Their are so any paths and choices we take along the way, some of us will pray while others seem not to!
    In times of uncertainness the answer is there but we must always listen and be open to it...have faith.

    Wishing you, and your readers, a good week ahead Victor.

    All the best Jan

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    1. You're right, Jan. To have faith is to believe God is there with us all the time.

      Best wishes to you and yours. God bless.

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  7. Sometimes it is very hard to be joyful through trials. What helps me is knowing God is there to help me through ANYTHING! He's done it before and know he will do it again!

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    1. That's what my friend said when I asked him about his faith. He said he'd been through so many bad things in life, (and I know he has), and yet he came through because God was with him.

      God bless Happyone.

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  8. There are moments when I say to myself, "I believe but God help my unbelief." What a beautiful sermon Victor. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kindness, Manny.

      God bless you.

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  9. When things look that bleak, i yell at the enemy to go sit at the foot of the cross and be dealt with there, that i am not going to quit believing and praying no matter what. It helps, the devil quits smiling when you are praying "in his teeth" so to speak.

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    1. Yes, I have heard about that, Mimi. Also, at the time pray that Jesus helps you remain strong.

      God bless you always.

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