Mark 9:23-24 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I keep coming back to this story because I can identify with this father so easily, as I think every Christian can. We say we believe and we’re not being hypocritical, but at the same time it can feel like we are, because our faith can feel very shallow at times. The thing is, God knows our frailty and He loves us anyway. He wants our faith to grow, which is a major reason He doesn’t answer every prayer immediately. Dealing with delayed gratification is a major hallmark of maturity. However, He doesn’t reject us just because our faith stumbles, any more than parents reject their small children for being less than mature. (We can be tempted to do that at times, but objective self-examination shows that we’re less than perfectly mature ourselves.) I have liked some t-shirts I’ve seen, with messages like, “Be patient. God’s not finished with me yet,” and simply, “Under construction.” We won’t be “complete” until we’re before God’s throne in heaven, and we need to be at peace with that. Paul’s famous statement to the Philippians is all the more impactful when you consider that He wrote half the New Testament. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14) We don’t believe perfectly, or do anything perfectly, but like this father, we can ask God for help to continue to grow.

The longer I live, and presumably the more mature I get, the more I realize just how spiritually immature I am. I jump to conclusions, I take things for granted, I am judgmental, forgetting my own past failures. I am impatient and demanding, hurting people needlessly with my words. That said, I think it’s fair to say I’m a long way from where I once was. Sometimes, particularly when I’m disgusted with myself, I need to look back and see from where God has brought me. There is no shame in saying with this father, “I do believe. Help me do better.” I do need to remember that repentance is an essential part of this. I’m not to take my failures lightly, but I must remember that God is far bigger and stronger than any sin or failure of mine, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me completely. (1 John 1:7)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your overwhelming grace! Help me be an agent, a channel, of that grace to all around me, so that they may join me as Your growing children, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!