Decisions Set Direction

A father had brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples in order to be healed. They could not do it. When Jesus arrives (after the Transfiguration), the father asks Jesus what seems to be a reasonable request: If you can do anything to help, it sure would be appreciated.

The next two verses record Jesus’ response and the father’s reaction:

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

Many of us can relate to this father … I really do believe in Jesus. I really do believe God is in control. It’s relatively easy to believe in God when life is relatively easy. But then there are those moments when life is difficult, a marriage falls apart, or a child rebels.

In those moments, we might wonder why and feel like the very act of questioning is a sign of unbelief. Yet, to ask why something is happening may actually be a statement of faith. To ask why God allows something to happen presupposes that God actually exists and that he should be good towards us.

The fact is that human life can’t be reduced to simple formulas — nor can faith in God.

At any given time, we are a mixture of belief and unbelief. The question is: which one will we say YES to? Will you say YES to God even when you don’t understand ways? Or will you say YES to your unbelief and choose to live your life as if there is no God.

Here’s the good news: Your faith as a Christ-follower doesn’t mean you have to have God all figured out.

Faith is a matter of trusting God’s nature – his character. Faith isn’t denying there is a physical side to life. Faith is acknowledging the spiritual side of life. It’s about learning to trust the spiritual truths more than you do the physical ones.

Mark tells us that when Jesus cast out the evil spirit, the boy looked like a corpse and the crowd thought he was dead. But his disciples want to know why they failed to do what the father had asked.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” – Mark 9:28-29

Jesus is telling us that there are certain parts of life that cannot be overcome by our education or financial strength. There are parts of life that can only be addressed through spiritual practices and principles.

Here’s what I want you to remember: You make decisions every day that move you closer to your God-ordained destiny—or away from it.

Faith doesn’t try to get God to respond to you. True faith is when you respond to what God has already done for you.