BELIEF AND UNBELIEF

Too often, church people are hesitant to admit their questions and doubts, particularly in church contexts. But that leaves us who do not always feel so certain, afraid to be honest about our doubts, and not sure if we actually fit with the church crowd.

This is where the story of Jesus’ interaction with a father who both believed and was yet willing to admit his unbelief is helpful. This father brought his son to Jesus but was met by some of the disciples, who were not able to help them.

Eager for his son to be healed, the father was confronted with Jesus’ bold statement: “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).

This could have been interpreted as a call for an unequivocal, unambiguous assertion of faith. And why wouldn’t the anxious father have offered such a confession of faith when desperately seeking healing for his son? But it seems honesty was more important than certainty—particularly, a contrived certainty. The father was more circumspect in his expression, even if not in tone: “I do believe,” he insisted, “help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

His response characterizes many of our honest reflections on faith. When we are confronted with the claims of Jesus, we believe; we want to believe; we try to believe, yet we must also confess our need for help overcoming our unbelief. I imagine Jesus smiling at this father’s answer as He proceeded to heal the boy amid the gathering crowd.

In doing so, He affirmed the father’s enthusiastic but awkward confession. It seems that honest faith is enough in Jesus’ eyes—and that helps grow my belief in God, who understands our questions and doubts but also urges that we not let our fears dominate our lives, our faith, or our priorities.