When I was 6 years old, I stood atop the neighborhood pool’s 12-foot high dive while my parents tried to coax me to take the plunge. I was afraid of heights, and they wanted me to face my fears. So they had encouraged me to climb up and give it a try. However, I stood atop the small tower for 10 minutes, protesting that I simply couldn’t. The moment didn’t require anything fancy, no triple-flips or corkscrew twists. I really didn’t even have to jump. All I needed to do was step to the edge and lean the tiniest bit. Gravity would have taken care of the rest.
Jesus encountered a man whose faith halted at the edge. For years, a demon had terrorized his son. So the desperate father carried his boy to Jesus (vv.17-18). With two sons of my own, I can’t imagine the dad’s agony, as he watched his boy’s body tormented by violent convulsions, constant falls, and “writhing and foaming at the mouth” (v.20).
The father brought his son to Jesus because he knew that He was the only one who could help. None of the religious leaders or healers, despite all their attempts, had been able to do anything for him. As Jesus asked the dad about his son’s grim condition, however, the father’s answer evidenced his conflicted hopes. His hesitation showed: “Help us if You can,” he said.
Pushing back and prodding the man’s courage, Jesus answered, “If I can?” Immediately, a spark of faith lit in the father. “I do believe; help my unbelief” (v.24 NAS). Such an honest confession—words of faith mixed with doubt. But Jesus’ heart quickly responded; and without hesitation, He healed the boy.
While receiving from Jesus requires our faith, this faith is simply an act of openness, a willingness to just lean (even if barely) and allow Jesus to take care of the rest.
More:
It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).
Next:
Where are you most desperate for God to act for (or in) you? What holds you back from simply leaning toward Him?
Soldier4Christ on July 18, 2010 at 7:20 am
All to often we try and lean but on our own understanding. We ask God to do something for us or we say that we are giving something over to Jesus, trusting Him for a miracle and yet we tend to take it back and lean on what we know and as a result show that we really aren’t trusting God to meet our needs. I pray that God will help me in those times of weakness. I know that my God is able.
alanmross on July 18, 2010 at 7:53 am
Man of God, take a step of faith. How often I have heard those words but wondered is it me? Is it the enemy? Is it my Lord? Learning to discern the still small voice makes it so much easier to step out. Great devotion. Thank you Winn.
hayakwah on July 18, 2010 at 9:24 am
How sad is it that sometimes we pray for something and we get it, but we are not able to identify the answer to our prayer. My dear christians since we are alianated to Christ Jesus, it make our lives to be in His control so anything that comes your way is what you are surpose to work with since your Heavenly Father alone knows what is best for your life. BeBless. Thank you for the food you’ve given to my spirit, GOD bless you.
winn collier on July 18, 2010 at 11:04 am
I needed to remember this today. To lean in. And drown.
philup59 on July 18, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Describes me well. At times I’m very timid in asking and trusting the Lord.
cuddles on July 18, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I have a “Footsteps in the Sand” poem on my wall and I read it when I am facing difficulties. The part that stands out for me is ‘My precious, precious child I love you and I would never never leave you during your trials and suffering when you saw only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you.These words are so reassuring that when I have a crisis of faith I read them and I am at ease again. I was brought up with a very simplistic faith which has stayed with me. My father would take me to church and I would ask him about why we suffered and he would simply reply Jesus suffered he never said anymore than that so I understood from this that where there is suffering there is God.I am now in my fifties and my father has passed on and this is the poem that I took from his house after he died.
hello on July 18, 2010 at 11:27 pm
This is right. We shouldn’t just say we trust God and ask God to take care for the things that we worried but we should allow Him to works things on without depend on out own understanding.Amen.