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In Matthew chapter 9, a man brought his deaf and dumb son to Jesus' disciples, but they could not heal him. Jesus came and found the scribes questioning his disciples and asked, "What question ye with them?" Then the man who had brought his son answered, "Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not." (Mark 9:16-18)

Then Jesus answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me." (Mark 9:19)

And they brought the child and immediately the spirit tore at him and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. Jesus asked the father, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" And the man answered that he had been this way since childhood, and that many times it had cast him into the fire or into the water to destroy him. Then the father pleaded, "But if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." (Mark 9:20-22)

Think of this man’s situation and perspective on his son’s problem. His son had been this way since he was a little child, he’d asked the disciples for help, but they could do nothing. So here he is coming to Jesus requesting help. Everything seems to be stacked against the man and his son. Nothing seems to be working for them, but he’s still willing to keep asking.

Jesus answers him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe!”

Then as if to answer a questioning look from Jesus eyes, he added, “Help thou mine unbelief.”

Jesus charged the deaf and dumb spirit to "come out of him and enter no more into him. The spirit cried, rent him sore, and came out of him; and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose." (Mark 9:25-27)

Sometimes we face trials and challenges that seem insurmountable. There may appear to be no logical solution or no earthly way of healing the situation. But just as Jesus told the father in this story, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

Recently this story has taken on new meaning for me as I’ve grappled with a dilemma where everything seemed to be pointing me in a certain direction, but means of going in that direction were blocked. I felt the Lord was opening doors that took money and means that I didn’t have available to walk through. I knew I needed to have faith and believe that He would provide the means necessary, but I still felt like this father, “Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief!” Like the father, my heart was saying one thing while my circumstances screamed, “but how?”

As a matter of fact, this father’s words have been running through my mind for a solid week. Finally, the other day, I took the opportunity to look up this passage in the Bible and continued to read further.

Later, Jesus’ disciples asked him privately why they couldn’t cast out the spirit. Jesus answered, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:28-29)

I determined that prayer and fasting were what I needed to cast out my spirit of doubt. But what was I supposed to fast for? An increase in faith? The money to fund the project? What?

While talking with a friend, she asked me if I had ever prayed and gotten a solid answer that the doors that were opening were really the ones God intended for me to walk through. While it seemed apparent that they were, I had never really asked. I didn’t know beyond any doubt that God intended for me to act on these opportunities. I didn’t have a solid confirmation – hence the doubt and trepidation. She suggested that I get a solid answer about whether this was definitely something that I was supposed to do. If it was, then I would be able to have the faith necessary to move forward and trust that the Lord would provide the means in His time.

I knew she was right. Not having a definite confirmation is what had been causing my vacillation between faith and nagging doubts. So I began the fast, came to the Lord several times throughout a 24-hour period asking if my choice was the correct one. I studied the scriptures that I felt led to read, even made a pros and cons list and finally that overwhelming answer came. A feeling of peace, joy and warmth that told me the Lord was saying, “Yes, I opened these doors for you. Doubt not, fear not, walk forward and I will provide.”

I have a strong testimony of the principle of prayer and fasting as outlined in Isaiah 58. As we fast, Isaiah 58:9 says, “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am.” I testify to you that He is there! Our Heavenly Father listens to the prayers of every single honest seeking soul and He is ready and willing to answer the perplexing problems with which we grapple. I am grateful that the Lord looks out for each one of us, and holds out blessings that if we but have the faith, casting fear out of our hearts, we may receive. I leave these thoughts with you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

About Marnie Pehrson
Marnie L. Pehrson is a wife, mother of 6, founder of SheLovesGod.com, and author of both inspirational Christian titles such as You Can't Fly If You're Still Clutching the Dirt: How to Stop Worrying and Achieve Your God-given Potential and historical fiction novels like "The Patriot Wore Petticoats". Be sure to download her free ebook Nothing Is Impossible for Those Who Believe. You may read excerpts and samples of her books and ebooks at www.MarniePehrson.com. She also frequently adds to her gratitude column here.

The author may be contacted at http://www.MarniePehrson.com webmaster@shelovesgod.com.

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