Prove your Faith

 

Article by Victor S E Moubarak - LINK HERE 

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48

When things go wrong in our lives and we pray to God to help us, or help someone we love, what exactly is our motivation? Do we truly believe that there is "Someone" there listening to us and able, and willing, to help us? Or do we pray as a last resource action, or a "just in case" activity to tick another thing on our list?

The woman in the passage we've just read had tried many things to get healed. She had been to this doctor, and the next, this expert physician and the other; she had spent all her money on consultations and medicines, but was still not healed. She had been in this condition for twelve years and it seemed she was getting worse.

So she decided to turn to Jesus for help.

Let us look at her motivation. Did she go to Jesus as yet another thing to do? Just as if she was seeing another doctor? Just to tick another item on her "to do" list?

Or did she really believe that Jesus could heal her?

Note that in fact she did not go and ask Jesus for help. She was so sure of His powers as the Son of God that she decided that by just touching the fringe of His garment will be enough to heal her. This time her motivation was different. She did not go and see yet another "doctor"; she was sure she will be healed. And Jesus rewarded her by saying "your faith has made you well".

Is our faith just as strong when we pray to God?

What if our faith is weak and faltering?

Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Jesus had pity on the father and healed his son.

Notice that in this case, perhaps like us sometimes, the father had a little faith but was not so sure that Jesus would help him. He probably believed in Christ's power; maybe he had witnessed His other miracles, but he was not certain that Jesus would help.

But at least he was honest in his request and his reply: "If You can ..." and "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:14-29

Let that be our prayer when we too are doubtful.

"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"