Beyond What If

Opening Scripture

Mark 9:14–29 NIV

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

It is likely that the disciples had been following Jesus for about 2 to 2 1/2 years.

Jesus confronts the atmosphere of unbelief surrounding the situation. Even His own disciples, after walking with Him and previously exercising authority over demons, were struggling in this moment.

Even in the midst of frustration Jesus still performs the miracle.

Even when the dad of the child had doubted Jesus still had compassion and performed the miracle

Doubt causes us to act on our own understanding instead of trusting completely in Jesus and the word of God.

Doubt is normal for the flesh but Jesus calls us to go beyond our flesh

What are you leaning more towards?

Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

We are called to trust in the Lord with all that we are and all that we have.

Apart of placing complete trust in God is fully submitting our ways to Him

Submit your Finances over to Him

Submit your Time over to Him

Submit your gifts over to Him

Submit your family over to Him

Submit your career over to Him

Whatever we fail to fully submit to Jesus we try to control it ourselves

Whatever we have full control over will end up failing

In this present moment what are you leaning more towards? Controlling everything yourself or putting everything in the hands of the Lord who is more that able to control it.

This is How We Live

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

For we live by faith, not by sight.

We are often times persuaded by what we see instead of God’s word.

As followers of Jesus we don’t live by what we hear or see but instead we choose to stand firm upon the word/promises of God.

When we get to the point of evaluating the “What if?” scenario we have allowed doubt to creep in

Doubt isn’t the complete absence of faith but it can lead to it if we are not careful

By Entertaining the “What if” we essentially allow the opportunity for us to become distracted.

Wait For It…

Habakkuk 2:3 NIV

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Everyone has a vision attached to a promise for the gift that God has imparted on the inside of you

Because it didn’t happen when you thought it was going to happen doesn’t mean it will never happen

God’s timing is NOT the same as our timing

Whenever we try to control our mission, vision, purpose, etc. we set a time frame for God to comply with

When it doesn’t happen in our time frame we then say “It will never happen” or “What if God never called me to do this?”

Stop giving birth to your doubt and start standing on this promise from God’s word!

IT may linger but WAIT FOR IT!!

If God said it it will happen

It will NOT delay God’s timing —- IT WILL ALWAYS BE RIGHT IN SEASON… RIGHT ON TIME!!!

WAIT FOR IT!!!

Your Next Steps

Identify Where Doubt Has Taken Root Ask yourself: “What area of my life am I struggling to trust God with right now?” Name it specifically. You cannot surrender what you refuse to acknowledge.

Surrender What You’ve Been Trying to Control Take the area you identified—your finances, family, career, ministry, future, relationships, or calling—and intentionally give it back to God in prayer. Pray: “Lord, I will be responsible with what You have given me, but I surrender the outcome to You.”

Replace the “What If?” With “God Said” Whenever doubt starts producing fearful “what if” questions, return to what you know Scripture says about God. Write down two or three biblical promises that speak directly to your situation and revisit them when doubt resurfaces.

Pray Through Your Unbelief Use the prayer from Mark 9:24 this week: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Don't hide your doubts from Jesus—bring them to Him. Make prayer your first response instead of allowing uncertainty to control your thinking.

Stay Faithful While You Wait Don't allow waiting to become inactivity. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep obeying. Keep using your gifts. Keep doing the last thing God clearly instructed you to do. Waiting on God does not mean doing nothing; it means remaining faithful without trying to force the outcome.