Growth through Crisis

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!’ – Mark 9:23-24.

This man brought his son to Jesus for help. Why? There was nowhere else for him to turn for help. From childhood, his son had suffered, and no one had been able to help; even the disciples had been unable to help. But still the man comes to Jesus to seek His help. You probably have been there at some point in your life, or you may be there now. You are at the end of your rope, and your fingers are losing their grip. You’re just not sure how much longer you can hold on, and you call out to the only One who has the power to help.

The man who brought his son to Jesus was blessed with the miraculous healing of his child. However, if you look closely at the story, you see in verse 26, that at first everyone thought he had died. But then Jesus lifted him up, and “he arose.” The man who had prayed for Jesus’ help for his unbelief received help. No doubt his faith was strengthened far beyond what he could have ever dared to hope. Also, the faith of others was strengthened, including onlookers, and that of the disciples. When you grow through crisis, others will grow as well.

It seems I have had many crisis situations in my life, in which I turned toward God, and not away from Him. The first one occurred early in our marriage, and early in my life as a Christian. I was far from God, and my wife told me she was leaving me. I prayed for the first time in a long time, and she came home at the end of the week. My prayer life was strengthened incredibly. The second time I was in a crisis with temptation. I prayed; God delivered me, and I grew so much closer to Him. The third time I was in a crisis when my son was born with Down Syndrome. I prayed for him to be healed, and to be made “normal,” but God answered my prayer by saying He would be with me, and He has been with me. My son has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life. Not an easy blessing sometimes, but still a blessing that continues to draw me nearer, and nearer to my Lord.

I could tell you of more recent crises, but I think you can get the picture.
I know of many, including friends who during times of crisis have turned away from God, and the result has been a lack of growth in their lives. If, however, during our times of crisis and despair, we turn to God; we will grow, and He will use it to bring about good in our lives and the lives of others. Allow God to “help” your “unbelief.”

Copyright © 2002-2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Submitted by Richard