My faith feels weak

What this passage says

A father brings his son to Jesus and says, if you can do anything, help us. Jesus answers about believing, and the father replies that he believes and asks help for his unbelief. Jesus heals the boy. The disciples ask afterwards why they could not, and Jesus answers about prayer.

What describes your situation best?

Only if it helps. Nothing you choose is saved or sent anywhere.

• I still believe but it feels thin
• Unanswered prayer has worn me down
• I have questions I am afraid to ask
• Other people seem more certain than me
• I'm not sure what I believe today

What would help you most right now?

• Give me Scripture to read
• Help me understand what Scripture says
• Guide me through prayer
• Give me a short study
• Create a 7-day Scripture journey

Read these next

• The same theme carried on

  Loading Luke 17:5-6…

  Jesus answers a request for more faith by speaking about faith's object rather than its size.

• Old and New Testament together

  Loading 2 Timothy 2:11-13…

  The faithfulness that holds is God's, stated where human faithlessness is in view.

• Promise, and its fulfilment

  Loading Isaiah 42:1-4…

  The servant does not break a bruised reed, quoted of Jesus in Matthew 12.

What this means for you

The father's sentence is not a model of strong faith and Jesus does not treat it as disqualifying. The honest words in verse 24 are spoken to Jesus, which is where weak faith belongs.

One thing to do

Say the words of Mark 9:24 to God in your own voice, then read the rest of the account to see what Jesus does next.

Pray this passage

Lord Jesus, I come with the father's words: I believe, help my unbelief. I am not pretending to be certain. You did not turn him away, and the passage records what you did for his son. Hold me while my faith is small, and teach me from your own words.

Or pray in your own words

• Say plainly where your faith feels thinnest.
• Ask for help for the unbelief itself, as verse 24 does.
• Thank him for one thing you still know to be true.

A 7 day Scripture path

Seven passages, one a day, read in your own translation. Kept in this browser only.

Where to go from here

• Read the whole chapter around Mark 9:14-29
• Put one of these verses to memory
• Save a verse or write a note in your library
• Choose another subject