The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Doubts" for Wednesday, 4 February 2015 - Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Doubts" for Wednesday, 4 February 2015 - Scripture: Mark 9: A demon-possessed boy
14 When Jesus, Peter, James, and John approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them and legal experts arguing with them. 15 Suddenly the whole crowd caught sight of Jesus. They ran to greet him, overcome with excitement. 16 Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about?”
17 Someone from the crowd responded, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, since he has a spirit that doesn’t allow him to speak. 18 Wherever it overpowers him, it throws him into a fit. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and stiffens up. So I spoke to your disciples to see if they could throw it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 Jesus answered them, “You faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.”
20 They brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a fit. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been going on?”
He said, “Since he was a child. 22 It has often thrown him into a fire or into water trying to kill him. If you can do anything, help us! Show us compassion!”
23 Jesus said to him, “‘If you can do anything’? All things are possible for the one who has faith.”
24 At that the boy’s father cried out, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!”
25 Noticing that the crowd had surged together, Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 After screaming and shaking the boy horribly, the spirit came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people said that he had died. 27 But Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he arose.
28 After Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we throw this spirit out?”
29 Jesus answered, “Throwing this kind of spirit out requires prayer.”
The boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”[Mark 9:24 (NIV)]
From Moses to Thomas, many people in the Bible experienced moments of doubt. Today’s reading tells of a father who brought his son to Jesus to be healed. When Jesus told him, “Everything is possible for one who believes,” the father immediately replied, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” I can certainly identify with the inner turmoil that caused the father to confess his doubts and at the same time ask for help with them.
As a young man I went through a period when I struggled in my faith and relationship with God. During this time I also found myself in many difficult, high-stress situations. Because of my doubts, I wondered if God would be willing to help. Nevertheless, I still prayed. I recall once starting a prayer with the words, “I can’t seem to get over these doubts, Lord, but I’m coming to you in spite of them.” Every time I prayed, the strength to endure and carry on seemed to come.
Doubt is not a sin. In fact, honest doubt can be the launching point toward a deep faith. The remedy for doubt is trust and prayer. As I discovered in my doubting time, God is always there. We have only to take that first prayerful step to find rest in God’s presence.
The Author: Gale A. Richards (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: Despite our doubts, God chooses us for service in the world.
Prayer: Dear God, when we are weary with doubts and burdened with unbelief, help us not to give up. Thank you for your constant presence with us. Amen.
Prayer focus: To be reminded of God’s presence
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