"One of the things you want to ask when you're doing a Bible study, when you're reading the Scriptures, is 'Why is this here? What was the biblical author's thinking behind that? What was God doing? Why is this story where it is, in the way that it is?'"
-Kevin DeYoung from "Help My Unbelief" (Mark 9:14)
"Doubt is not the goal in Christian life. Some people kind of get off and think, 'No, no, doubt is real authentic and it's raw and that's what we want. The more you doubt the more you really have faith.' No, no, doubt is never prized in Scripture. But, listen, doubt is understood. Jude chapter 22 says, 'Have mercy on those who doubt.' The Bible is realistic; that faith will sometimes be mingled with doubts. And you might say, 'I believe God is good, but why wouldn't I be able to have children? I believe the Bible is God's word, but there's some parts that seem hard to accept. I believe God is wise, but I can't fathom why He won't let me find a job. I believe my sins are forgiven and I'm loved by God, but sometimes I feel defeated and unclean. I believe in God's providence and yet it seems like I'm getting all the suffering and none of the glory. I believe God has a plan for my life, but I did not think that this would be it.' 'I believe. Help my unbelief.' You want to memorize one verse this week, it's that one. I promise you you will use it in your life. It's saying 'Lord I want to. I'm not there yet. I'm trying, I'm struggling. I want to not have these doubts, but I have doubts. But I don't want to have the doubts, and at least I want to not want to.' The Lord understands. And look what happens to the man. After he professes this small bit of faith. This is sort of how God works. Things immediately get worse. So then, the crowd comes and Jesus casts out the demon and rebukes it. And then in verse 26, 'After crying and convulsing him terribly it came out and the boy was like a corpse. And they thought he was dead!' You can imagine the man was thinking 'I had a little bit of faith. It was small. I told you I was struggling and doubting, Jesus. So you know how meager my faith is and now you give me this? You're supposed to be working for me and now my son is dead. Help my unbelief.' Sometimes you go about things the right way, you call on God and then things seem to fall apart. But faith doesn't run from God at that moment. It hangs on and says, 'Okay I need more help with my unbelief..'" -Kevin DeYoung from "Help My Unbelief" (Mark 9:14)
Kevin DeYoung - "Help My Unbelief" (Mark 9:14)
http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/help_my_unbelief
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