One of my favorite things Jesus ever said is tucked in the middle of Mark 9:
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23 NLT)
My eyes used to linger on the second half of this verse. All I needed to do was believe, and Jesus could make anything possible! The possibilities seem endless when the one who quiets the raging waters and resurrects the dead is by your side.
But, recently, my eyes have darted to the first half: “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?”
I chuckle when I think about the context of this verse—a father asks Jesus to heal his son, and Jesus is unfazed. I imagine a smile spreading across his face ever so slightly. His head tilted, and with a compassionate gaze on his face, he approaches the father to ask the question he still poses to us today:
What do you mean “If I can”?
For Jesus, it is never a question of whether he is able. He is God Almighty walking in our midst. But while we might know all the stories of Jesus’ miracles and marvel at his power over the natural world, believing the same power is for us is another thing. What if our prayers have gone unanswered for a long time? What if we got tired of believing that the God of the universe hears our prayers?
When you feel your doubts drowning you, lost in a sea of confusion, hear the words Jesus spoke to his disciples after walking on water:
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27, emphasis mine)
Doubts often invite fear into our hearts. But Jesus wants to sit on the boat with you today, just like he did with his disciples navigating the storm. He wants to take the place of your fears.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by doubts that God hears your prayers, one immediate step we can all take is to say this in response to Jesus:
“Thank you, Jesus, because you can do anything. Help me to believe and not be afraid.”
Jesus’ words still speak light into darkness, as they did at the beginning of time. They still usher peace where there is havoc. His words still guide us into the abundant life sealed for all eternity.
His words infuse peace and hope into our beings, empowering us to keep praying. Even when he answers with a “no,” Jesus’ presence is still powerful enough to strengthen us. His presence will give us the strength and joy to trust that he is enough.
God indeed wants us to see prayer at work. He promises that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
Most of our doubts in prayer come from waiting. They come from waiting on those requests that feel like they’ve been lost in the shuffle. The seemingly impossible, unanswered prayers let doubts take over the driver’s seat of our lives.
But what if we unlock the power of prayer more by scaling down our requests?
God cares about the little details of our lives as much as the momentous circumstances that crowd our minds. After all, prayer is a conversation with our Father. What would renew your hope in the God who longs to commune with you? Talk to God about it and see how he cares about even the smallest requests.
You can ask him to make you laugh, give you a new song that rekindles your joy, or pray for God to put a person in your mind who needs to hear his hope. In the words of Jesus, “All things are possible for the one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
If it is according to his will (and I believe laughter is one of his most divine creations), then he will certainly answer.
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2)
When he answers, stay alert and note his faithfulness, for those small, answered prayers keep us going. Then, always choose thanksgiving. Thank him as you wait, and you will receive his peace. Thank him when you get your answer, and you will experience renewed hope in prayer.
When we get specific in our prayers, asking the Spirit to lead us in each moment of the day, we will see a Father who walks with us in the storm. We will see Jesus kindly extending his arm to lead us in our doubts. Goodness and mercy still follow us, but sometimes, we just need to take a moment to ask and experience what is already true about our walk with Jesus.
Sometimes, we just need to remember that we are still children dependent on a loving Father who delights in every detail of our lives.
Application
- What is a prayer request you have doubts about? Put your palms down, asking God to release you from doubts that those prayers will be answered. Put your palms up and receive this truth: Jesus is with me, and all things are possible with him.
- Read Psalm 37:23: “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Close your eyes, thank God that he delights in every detail of your life, and ask that the Lord give you small prayers to pray throughout the day.
Photo Credit: Emilee Carpenter
Long before Ela knew of storytelling as a vehicle for gospel-fueled transformation, she was already crafting stories with hopeful endings. While this went on for a while, her journey took a drastic turn when she went to Taylor University and encountered hope in the face of God. He was the ultimate hope she was searching for amidst her stories. With that knowledge came new layers of storytelling—photography, baking, videography, and more. She now enjoys studying the Word of her personal God and sharing what he is teaching her through the art of writing.
