“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “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!” (Mark 9:22–24, NIV 1984).
My Musings – This is a conversation between Jesus and a boy’s father. The father had brought his son to the disciples to cast out an evil spirit that had possessed the boy since childhood. The disciples had failed and now the man turned to Jesus.
I think I can identify with the boy’s father to some extent. Maybe others can too. While I believe with all my heart that Christ can do anything I ask, I very often do not believe that He will do it. Sometimes it is doubt, but often it is an understanding that “[His] thoughts are not [my] thoughts, neither are [His] ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than [my] ways and [His] thoughts than [my] thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9, NIV 1984).
My Advice – And that is a comforting thought. For His “gives” are “higher” than my “asks.” Sadly, more often than I care to admit, my “asks” are selfish and shortsighted. Earthly, when His “gives” are heavenly. For, “which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11, NIV 1984).
So, when we do not receive what we ask, it is either because what we asked for was not good or the time what not good. But whatever it is we ask; we must never believe it means we are going to receive a stone or a snake instead. May God “help [us] overcome [our] unbelief” in His goodness.
The Brew Is A Musing 