The phrase “Help my unbelief” comes from Mark 9:24, where a desperate father pleads with Jesus to heal his son, saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”. This powerful request acknowledges the human struggle with doubt, while expressing a desire to be faithful.
How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives in him should be psalms of irrepressible, triumphant belief. –Oswald Chambers
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. –Galatians 2:20*
So how does a Christian live by faith in Jesus? I’ve often asked myself this question as I ponder life. I think I might be getting closer to finding the answer.
“Keep the faith baby!” We’ve all heard this or something similar. So how much faith is enough? In Matthew 17, Jesus tells us that faith “the size of a mustard seed” is enough to move a mountain. Hmmm, I have a couple of pretty big mountains in my life that I want to move, but so far, they’re still there to greet me every morning when I awake. Apparently, I lack the ability to muster even a tiny mustard seed worth of faith—and this frustrates and disappoints me.
Happily, I believe I might have found the root cause of my failure. My faith lacks persistence. Paul points to persistence in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, which exhorts us to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” If one meditates on this short passage, I believe they’ll find that it contains some pretty tough marching orders.
Persistent faith is surrendering one’s will to God’s will, not a product of personal willpower, but a result of trusting His plan for your life, even when it’s unclear to you. This act of surrender means relinquishing personal control and aligning one’s life with a higher purpose, leading to strength and peace found in God’s wisdom rather than one’s own. It is an ongoing process of daily submission, acknowledging one’s own limitations and trusting in God’s provision.
Matthew 14:29-31 is a wonderful example of impersistent faith. As Jesus is walking on the water in the Sea of Galilee, he approaches the boat where his disciples are struggling in a violent storm. “Come,” he said (to Peter). Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
In this lesson, Peter was doing fine while he focused on Jesus, but when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the great wind of the storm he began to doubt. Like a new military recruit struggling to qualify with his weapon on a rifle range, Peter failed because he took his eye off the target, Jesus.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James1:2-3
As I’ve noted before, Jesus was and remains the God of the Impossible for those who come to him as their Lord and Savior. I believe this in my heart. Believing is easy when things are going my way. I’m trying hard to learn how to put this into action when the going gets too tough for me to handle. Every day I try to meditate on Psalm 143 as part of my daily devotions. I find verses 8 – 10 to be a great source of encouragement and comfort, especially when I feel overwhelmed by life. I hope you might find them equally useful.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
On this national holiday dedicated to giving thanks, let us give thanks to the Lord our God for all his blessings and provision in the past year and in the years to come. May He lead us all on level ground.
Divine Simplicity 
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