WEEK 3: SPIRIT
DAY 21: DON'T LOSE HOPE
January 26, 2025
Mark 9:21-24 NLT
21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus asked the question, “how long has he been like this?” We need to ask ourselves a question as well. We need to ask ourselves why is Jesus asking this question? After all, Jesus never asks questions because of a lack of knowledge. Jesus always asks questions to enlighten the person he’s talking to.
In this case, it is the father who has done everything within his power to help his son who is on his last hail mary attempt. The father responds to Jesus by explaining what the demons do to him when they manifest and how long the boy has been dealing with it. Jesus is trying to get this man to understand. The longevity of the problem does not negate the fact that He could still do something about it.
Sometimes we can deal with issues and problems and habits for so long and pray about them for years that we begin to lose hope or accept the reality that things may never change. Jesus asked this man this question to take him down memory lane. For this man to recollect all the appointments, all the meetings with pastors, the different memories and episodes. Jesus is helping him understand that just because you have been dealing with this for a long time, and you have been praying for this issue for just as long, it doesn’t negate the fact that I can still do something about it.
It’s not abnormal to have doubt. And after a long time, I’m sure this father began to doubt whether healing would take place in his son. But what’s important is that when you have doubt you bring it to Jesus. This is why he responds to Jesus “if you are willing.” I have faith that you can heal him, but my doubt is if you will heal him. It is possible to have faith and doubt at the same time. However, it’s important and imperative that we bring our doubt to Jesus and not leave it unchecked. Don’t lose hope. Jesus can still do a miracle.
REFLECT:
What issue, situation, or problem have you been praying for years about? Has the lack of answered prayer caused you to doubt?
Take a few minutes to think about this and write down your reflections in a journal or in your notes app.
PRAYER PURPOSE:
Ask God to help you deal with your doubt. And to help your perspective on the situation by not letting the length of times that you have dealt with this problem affect your faith that God can still do something about it.
PRAY:
GoGod help me to have faith. That just because it hasn’t happened yet, I know you can still do something about it. God, I have faith that you can do something, but currently if I’m honest, I may have some doubt if you will do something about it. I’m putting my doubt before You, I’m setting it at Your feet. Help me every day as I talk to you to deal with a doubt that I have. Help me to not lose hope. Give me endurance to keep praying, and to keep asking. Give me persistence. Amen.