Judg.10-11:11; Acts 14; Jer. 23; Mark 9

Photo by Mandy Baldwin

“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NIV

I would love to know the emotion behind this interaction for Jesus. He had been performing miracles and teaching. The crowds following Him were growing and He was gaining the unwanted attention of the pharisees. Is He frustrated? Does He wish He were trusted more? Believed more?

I wonder if it’s not any of those emotions but an invitation. An invitation to trust more…ask for more…believe more. I sometimes have trouble asking assertively for what I want. What if Jesus was giving this father a second chance to ask for what he really wanted…complete healing for his son.

Why don’t we ask for more? Well, we’ve been taught to be polite. Don’t ask for too much and don’t overstep. This interaction seems like an invitation directly from God to ask for more. Boldly go before your God that loves you and desires good things for you and ask.

Dear God, we come today with open hands. We ask boldly for those desires of our hearts that keep us awake at night. You are not offended by what we ask for but sad because of what we don’t ask for. God, we desire to be like the father Jesus encountered when we say “I believe, help my unbelief.” Amen.

Mandy

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