Daily Devotions
This story always makes me squirm a little, because it has so many things that make me worry about my own faith. First is the failure of the disciples; they publicly try to do something Jesus has given them the command and authority to do, and it doesn’t work. Isn’t that enough to cause a crisis of faith?
And Jesus sounds really frustrated when He says, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” I don’t know if He was talking to the disciples or to the crowd—but either way, it makes me squirm.
And then there’s the bit where the father says “If You can do anything,” and Jesus catches him on that phrase immediately—and of course the man thinks to himself, “Do I have enough faith?” Who hasn’t wondered that at some desperate moment? I have.
But there’s one bright spot in this story, and it’s enough to redeem all the rest: Jesus says, “Bring him to Me.” And they bring the child to Jesus, and He makes him well.
“Bring him to Me.” It doesn’t matter what the problem is, or how faithless we feel, or how foolish we look: “Bring it to Me.” Bring your doubts, your confusion, your fear or your grief or pain—bring them to Jesus! He will sort it out. Even if He sounds frustrated, it doesn’t matter, He will still deal with it. He has never let us down.
In the end, Jesus is always the same: the One who came to save us, who suffered and died for us, who rose from the dead to make us God’s children. He is the answer to all our problems. If we don’t know what to do, He does. If we don’t have the faith to get through it, He will provide it. One way or the other, He will see us through—and we will be safe with Him forever.
WE PRAY: Lord, my life is messy, and I need You. Please help me! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you ever worry about your faith?
2. How dependable have you found Jesus to be in your own experience?
3. What could you bring to Jesus for His help today?