Help My Unbelief
Notes
Transcript
Handout
My dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a privilege to stand before you today, to open God's holy Word, and to delve into a passage that speaks to the very heart of the human experience – a passage that confronts our deepest uncertainties with profound grace. Our sermon title this morning is "Help My Unbelief," drawn directly from the honest, vulnerable cry of a desperate father in Mark 9:24.
Mark 9:17–24 (ESV)
17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you believed, truly believed, but still, a shadow of doubt lingered? Perhaps you've questioned God's plan, your own worthiness, or even the very promises laid out in Scripture. If so, you are not alone. Doubt, in its essence, is an undecided state of mind where one hesitates between two opposite conclusions. It's a lack of confidence or uncertainty about something or someone, including oneself. On an emotional level, it involves indecision between belief and disbelief, and may encompass uncertainty, distrust, or a lack of conviction regarding facts, actions, motives, or decisions. This morning, our central idea is to inspire each of us to move beyond our doubt, to understand what doubt truly is, and to use that understanding to develop a faith that produces spiritual fruit in our lives.
Let us explore three key objectives from God's Word to help us navigate this journey:
1. Understanding the Landscape of Doubt: It’s More Common Than You Think
1. Understanding the Landscape of Doubt: It’s More Common Than You Think
First, we must understand that doubt is a common experience, even for spiritual leaders and heroes throughout biblical history. The Bible includes many stories where doubt and faith are intertwined, demonstrating that God responds to questions and struggles as part of the journey to deeper trust.
Consider these biblical examples:
Thomas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, famously refused to believe in Jesus' resurrection until he saw and touched Jesus’ wounds. When Jesus appeared and offered proof, Thomas’s doubts turned to faith: “My Lord and my God!”. Thomas's skepticism was not that of a philosophical materialist.
doubt can coexist with, and even deepen, genuine faith distinguish between faith and gullibility
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
Even after witnessing miracles and Jesus’ resurrection, His closest followers worshipped Him, Yet Jesus still entrusted them with the Great Commission, underlining that .
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
The Disciples – Matthew 28:16-17 “but some doubted."faith need not be perfect to participate in God’s mission
Our very text for today. A desperate father pleaded with Jesus to heal his son: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” This honest admission of partial faith and doubt was warmly received by Jesus, who healed the boy. The story powerfully illustrates that , and that God responds compassionately to honest struggles.
The Father in Mark 9:24 faith and doubt often exist side by side
These accounts reveal that doubt is a part of the spiritual journey, not necessarily its antithesis. Many theologians point out famously, "Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith". It can also be noted that "The mature religious sentiment is ordinarily fashioned in the workshop of doubt". Rather than being a sign of spiritual failure, experiencing and wrestling with doubt can ignite a process of growth, reflection, and new insights.
2. Witnessing God's Compassionate Engagement with Doubt
2. Witnessing God's Compassionate Engagement with Doubt
Secondly, we must grasp how God, in His infinite wisdom and love, consistently responds to doubt with patience, encouragement, and evidence rather than condemnation. He does not reject those who doubt; He often gives what is needed to move forward in faith. God’s reaction to doubt is shaped by compassion, invitation, and patient guidance.
Look at how God responded to doubt in Scripture:
When Thomas doubted the resurrection, Jesus did not rebuke him harshly. Instead, he invited examination, providing the exact evidence Thomas said he needed. Jesus met Thomas where he was, honoring his honest struggle.
Thomas (John 20:24-29) Jesus invited Thomas to see and touch His wounds
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
When called by God to deliver Israel, Moses doubted his own ability and God’s power. Rather than rejecting him, God shows us, that divine calling often meets us at our points of insecurity and doubt, and God meets doubt with empowering grace and practical help. God specifically responded to Moses' uncertainty by promising a demonstration of His power.
Moses (Exodus 3–4) God reassured Moses repeatedly, gave signs, and provided Aaron as a helper
Gideon doubted God’s calling and repeatedly asked for signs, such as the famous “fleece” miracle. .
Gideon (Judges 6:36-40) God responded patiently, confirming His promise and empowering Gideon for victory
36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.
Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. His fear and doubt led to temporary denial, but Jesus later restored him and entrusted him with leadership, demonstrating that doubt can be an element of our faith.
Peter (Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75) recovery from doubt is possible and often leads to renewed purpose
God is far more interested in a heart willing to move through doubt than in flawless faith. He desires honest engagement more than perfect certainty.
3. Cultivating Fruitful Faith Through Honest Engagement
3. Cultivating Fruitful Faith Through Honest Engagement
Finally, understanding doubt and witnessing God's response should lead us to practical strategies for moving through doubt to a more resilient, mature, and dynamic faith. Doubt, when engaged openly, can deepen understanding, foster humility, and promote lasting personal transformation.
How do we do this?
Recognize that doubt is a natural part of faith. Embracing and honestly confronting your doubts can make faith stronger and more authentic, rather than weaker. View doubt not as a failure but as an invitation to deeper growth and self-examination. Suppressing or ignoring religious doubt is linked to worse health outcomes and psychological distress, while seeking spiritual growth and support during times of doubt generally has positive effects.
Engage with Doubt Honestly
Regularly read and study the Bible, especially passages where biblical figures struggled with doubt. Gaining assurance comes from God's Word, which offers correction and understanding. As James exhorts us, we must (James 1:6), aiming for a settled conviction that God will act.
Study Scripture Deeply"ask in faith, with no doubting"
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Share your doubts with trusted mentors, friends, or spiritual leaders. Positive social support helps individuals cope constructively with doubt and promotes spiritual growth. As Jude reminds us, we are to be (Jude 22), extending the same compassion we need.
Lean Into Christian Community “being patient with doubters"
Sometimes, spiritual growth comes from "doing" even when you feel unsure. Acts of service, kindness, and obedience can restore perspective and reinforce faith through experience. This is how faith produces fruit.
Take Faith-Inspired Action
Now, I want to share a modern-day illustration that underscores the importance of distinguishing genuine faith from something else. A so called an American faith healer named Peter Popoff. Popoff would host large assemblies and, seemingly supernaturally, call out specific individuals by row and seat number, revealing their ailments, like back pain, which he would then "heal". People were deeply impressed, believing the Lord was truly speaking through him.
However, a television company became suspicious. They discovered that Popoff wore a hearing aid that was actually a radio receiver. His wife, as people entered the meeting, would collect prayer request cards, identify those with common ailments like back pain, note their seating, and then radio that information to Peter through his "hearing aid". When this was exposed on national television, Popoff’s ministry collapsed.
We should emphasizes that this was not faith, but gullibility and idiocy. True biblical faith is not built on trickery or easily deceived belief; it is grounded in truth. Thomas, in our text, wanted to distinguish between faith and gullibility. He desired tangible proof, not a spiritual charade. Our faith, too, must be built on the solid ground of God's revealed truth, not on emotional manipulation or wishful thinking.
This illustration reminds us that moving beyond doubt isn't about ignoring evidence or embracing blind credulity. It's about seeking and finding genuine, truth-based conviction that can only come from God Himself.
Conclusion: A Call to Deeper Trust and Action
We've seen that doubt is a common companion on the journey of faith. We've witnessed God's profound compassion and patience in responding to the honest struggles of His people. And we’ve learned that when we engage with our doubts constructively—through honest self-examination, deep study of His Word, active participation in Christian community, and faith-inspired action—those very doubts can become a catalyst for spiritual growth, maturity, and a more authentic relationship with God.
The plea, "I believe; help my unbelief," is not a sign of weakness, but an invitation to growth. It’s a prayer for deepening trust, greater understanding, and renewed purpose. It is a prayer that acknowledges where we are, but yearns for where God can take us.
Today, if you find yourself wrestling with doubt, I urge you to heed this powerful lesson. Allow your questions to drive you deeper into the heart of God, rather than away from Him.
Perhaps today, you are ready to take that monumental step of faith, to publicly declare your trust in Jesus Christ. Acknowledging our unworthiness, our rebellion, and our desperate need for forgiveness, and thanking God for His Son's sacrifice and resurrection for our new life, God invites you to be truly reconciled to Him. This is why we urge you to:
This is not just a symbol, but an act of obedient faith, a burial with Christ and a resurrection to new life, where your sins are washed away and you put on Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27). If you have never taken this step, do so today and be added to His body, the church. Be Baptized
Perhaps you realize that some of your doubts stem from choices, called "systematic moral choices" or "deliberate atomistic choices" that shape your worldview and distance you from God. Or perhaps you’ve been suppressing your doubts, leading to distress. Today, you can privately or publicly repent by determining to implement the lessons we've discussed: to honestly engage your doubts, dive into His Word, seek out a supportive community, and commit to actions of faith. Repent
If you are struggling with specific doubts, anxieties, or challenges, we invite you to come forward and allow us to pray with you. "I believe; help my unbelief" is a legitimate prayer. We will present your honest questions and struggles to God, seeking His wisdom and comfort for you, knowing that God’s grace is for those with doubts. Make a Prayer Request
Don't let doubt paralyze you. Let it propel you into a deeper, more resilient, and ultimately, more fruitful faith. Come forward, my friends, as we stand and sing.
