Daily Reading
Scripture
Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24)
Observation
I have often gone to this passage concerning faith and healing. In my line of work, I see people die almost everyday. Sometimes there are certain life choices that lead up to the deaths, other times not. There is a young thirty-something mother of two right now who had a terrible accident and is now a vegetable. She and her family are strong believers. They pray and read the Bible to her every moment they have. Her husband just made the decision to have a long-term airway (tracheostomy) placed and long-term feeding (PEG tube). This could prolong her life for many, many years. He is believing for a miracle. Her family is believing for a miracle. I have a hard time with this type of situation. The medical side of me knows there is no hope of recovery. She will lay in a bed, hopefully be turned every two hours, be fed liquid through a tube, a machine will breath for her, and she will constantly fight infection. This is medical futility. On the other hand, I have seen miracles. People who were given no chance of recovery by the doctors somehow pull themselves out of death and have amazing testimonies to share. How do I reconcile my belief with my unbelief? My faith with what I know to be reality?
Application
I was speaking with someone about this the other day and an analogy came to me. This kind of faith is like buying a Lottery ticket; we buy one knowing the chances of winning are slim, but man-o-man, wouldn’t it be nice if we did? Maybe this is why our faith does not move mountains. Maybe this is the wrong kind of faith. I don’t know. I do know that I do not know God enough to know His will, and until I do, without a shadow of a doubt, I will probably continue to have this kind of faith. And the cost of a lottery ticket is a dollar and mild disappointment, but the cost of keeping someone alive? . . . well. . .
Prayer
This man who Jesus talked to cried out what I feel almost daily. “Jesus, I do believe, but PLEASE help me overcome my unbelief.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I just read that text the other day too, and there are so many more areas that prayer can be applied to besides in miracles for healing, just in everyday little issues. anyway way, you are so right about the decisions families make hoping, believing for a miracle, (remember Glen Dixon and how the whole church prayed for him, I think the family is still believing for a miracle) It would be a hard decision to make for those of us who believe God can do miracles, but I guess if He was going to do it, he could just as easily do it after the decision to end life support.
I remember Glen and remember not feeling right about that either. It’s a tough thing. What would you do if it were me or dad or one of the grand kids? Tough choices.