When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” Jesus said to them,  “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”

Mark 9:14-29

Dear God, parenting is so much harder than it looks. I wanted so badly to be good at it. And I thought I would be, but it revealed so many character flaws within me. I look at the dad in this story, and I just love him. He is scared. He is desperate. He is tired. He is helpless. And without Jesus, he is hopeless.

I’ve been there. Not to the extent of this father, but I’ve been there. Oh my gosh, trying to love your child through the hardships of growing up is gut wrenching.

I have had several friends who have been through all sorts of parental trials over the last several months. I’ve wept for those who have lost their children to suicide. I’ve tried to be a listening hear for those who are experiencing poor relationships and are concerned about their children’s life decisions. I’ve prayed for those whose children are facing hardships that are not of their own making. I’ve also prayed for and tried to reach out to children who are experiencing the pain of divorce. The pain of all of this is overwhelming. My experience as a parent makes this story one of my favorite.

Father, I have used the line, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief,” so many times. I should probably have it made into a sign and put on my office wall. Why? Because I confess that my faith is still not as big as a mustard seed. I pray for things, but I’m still often shocked when you say yes and answer the prayers. But I come to you today for my children and for the children of others. I come to you for those of us who are the parents as well. Help us to know how to pray for our children. Help us to know how to love them. Help us to not get in the way of your plans for them by short circuiting what you are trying to do in their lives by helping too much. And help us to not err on the other side and help too little. Love through us. Love richly. Love in the way that you would want them to see the love that comes from you.

I pray all of this in Jesus’ name,

Amen