When life is Too hard

Ministry has been full and fruitful and difficult lately! In some areas we are witnessing God’s faithfulness as He answers prayers and is moving through His people.  But we are also aware of brokenness and pain in the lives of many others.  I guess that’s one of the burdens of a growing church, more people = more ways to support them.

Personally, I have also been walking through some rough patches.  Navigating life while making the daily choice to follow the Lord despite the constant barrage of discouragement can feel like a losing battle at times. My times of prayer have become less vocal, with more silence and tears because words often fail me.

During this time, I’ve found comfort in Mark 9 and the interaction between Jesus and a man who was pleading for mercy for his son. This man brought his son, who was demon-possessed, to the disciples of Jesus and when they were not able to help him, he waited to speak with Jesus. Jesus told this father, “Bring your son to Me.”

Let’s stop and ponder: how would my difficult situation change if lived like Jesus was the One whom I completely trusted in?  What would it look like for us to leave EVERYTHING with Him before looking for answers elsewhere? Sadly, we often stop short of actually bringing our desperate situations to Jesus, because we settle for counsel from internet blogs, advice from others, or Ai help.  

The cry of this father is a cry of desperation.  No fancy Christian words are used.  Notice that he’s not even sure Jesus can heal his son.  “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us”. If. This father does not know of whom he is making this request.  

Jesus responds with, “If you can believe, all things are possible for him who believes.”

Christian, can you believe?  

Some of you can.  Others are in a season of doubt, wondering if it’s worth believing since God hasn’t done anything up until now, and there are others who are ready to walk away from God altogether.  The brokenness is too real.  The shattered lives too much. It’s in your face so often that it is nearly impossible to reconcile that God loves you with what He is asking you to walk through. Jesus hasn’t shown up when you’ve asked Him to. And you feel like there is no reason to believe anymore.  

Faith?  Belief?  It’s gotten you nowhere.  

Have you ever felt that way? Have you said those words, or contemplated saying them?

Because if you have, you will be grateful that this account in Mark 9 doesn’t end with an “if”. This father could have walked away, realizing that he didn’t have the faith Jesus was asking for.

I think many people let their story end there.  I know I have at times and I’ve been tempted in others. When you have given everything that you can, and prayed all the prayers and pleaded with God and nothing has changed, its easy to feel like God has abandoned you. And maybe that’s why the cry of the father it’s so beautiful- because he realizes that there is nothing that he can do here. He can’t even believe enough.

But it’s what he does with that unbelief that should minister to all of us.

He takes it to Jesus.  

“Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.”

He knew that Jesus was asking for more than he had. So, he brought Jesus his tiny seed of faith and Jesus made up the difference. Again, no fancy special Christian words were uttered.  Only a simple, truthful cry.

Is this you today? Then find comfort in the mercy and grace that are seen in this account. Find comfort in the fact that there are other others like you- others who have been brought to the end of themselves. Others who have a hard time believing. Others who have cried out to Jesus and He answered.

Don’t let seasons of difficulty keep you from bringing people and situations to Jesus. You can be real with Him.  Ask Him to have compassion and help you.  Ask Him to help your unbelief.

And then look for how He is showing up.

I’ll leave you with a quote that has ministered to me in the darker times:

Faith’s most severe tests come not when we see nothing but when we see a stunning array of evidence that seems to prove our faith vain. If God were God, if He were omnipotent, if He cared would this have happened? -Elisabeth Elliott 

Keep on, Christian.