Hindered Prayers Part 3

“The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or the water, trying to kill him.  Have mercy on us and help us.  Do something if you can.”

What do you mean, “If I can?” Jesus asked.  “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24

Have you ever said to God/Jesus Christ... “God touch this situation if you can?”

I have. And most likely in a difficult situation, like this one, you prayed in some kind of hope but not an expectant hope.

This word “unbelief” (in the text above) in the Greek is translated “apistia” (ap-is-tee’-ah).

Its definition is “a want of faith and trust”.

It is also means, “withholding belief in the divine power, or in the power and promises of God; in the divine mission of Jesus; in opposition of the gospel, with the added notion of obstinacy (stubbornness /inflexibility), and/or weakness of faith.”

Another way to define this idea is a “divided house” and/or a “divided mind”.

It’s being “double minded” which makes a person unstable in all their ways. James 1:8

Jesus made an interesting comment in Matthew 12:29

“How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder the house.”

The weight of doubt can lead to things like fear, depression, emptiness, and unfaithfulness.  Doubt is a way the “thief” of our soul blindfolds and chains us up to plunder what belief we do have.  Jesus says, “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

In doubt we can find ourselves in need of grace and mercy.  In doubt we can find ourselves in need and want of belief and trust in God.

And in part this is not bad.  For one of my favorite verses in God’s word is, “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

But if doubt stops us from “receiving” the things God has to give us that is problem.

For how can anyone walk in the authority of God, the love of God, the grace of God, the hope of God, the promises of God, the truth of God and so on… if doubt stops and ultimately robs us?

How can we expect to actually “receive” if we are hindered by doubt?

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Matthew 6:21

When we are faced with doubt we must consider carefully and honestly what we are treasuring in our hearts.  Are we treasuring doubt?  Are we treasuring to be a victim? Treasuring what people have said over what God has said... Or are we treasuring life and life more abundantly regardless of circumstances? Difficult to swallow but is this not true?

I had a friend who was living with a rare cancer, she fought the good fight, ran the race well and instead of becoming a victim- she trusted in God and gained a deeper relationship with Him.  People would come to see her and there was not this victim mentality but a warm, confident, courage because of deep trust in God.

In times of doubt and pain we might only see one set of footprints in the sand and think we are alone, but what if those footprints in the sand aren’t really ours but Jesus carrying us?

 If we realized this we might be healed from our doubt and see life differently. 

The man asked what of Jesus?

“Help me overcome my unbelief.”

Let us not become a victim but place our unbelief in Jesus hands- that he may transform them into “life and life more abundantly” amongst the challenges and difficult circumstances that come. May His mercy and grace abound in our life and we know His love more deeply.

Amen.