Continuing our series on the Conditioning of the Heart, today we tackle the issue of unbelief and how to deal with it in a way that will prevent the hardening of heart and further difficulty to appropriate that which God has made available for us. In Mark 16, we see the disciples struggling with unbelief and hardness of heart regarding Jesus’ resurrection, despite Him telling them what was to come. When Jesus resurrected, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, who then told the disciples, but they did not believe her (vs.9-11). Jesus later appeared to two other disciples who also went to tell the rest, but again, they did not believe (vs.12-13). Finally, ‘He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen’ (vs.14). Saints, it is important to condition our hearts to believe God and take Him at His Word; we must not allow unbelief to breed hardness of heart and desensitize us to the voice of God. Jesus has told them of His resurrection many times, and even at the words of witnesses, the boys still struggled to accept it as true.
Another instance showing us of the disciples’ challenges with unbelief is In Mark 9, when they were confronted with a challenge of delivering the mute demon-possessed boy. The father then brought his afflicted son to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not” (vs.17-18). Jesus responded to him in exasperation, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me” (vs.19), emphasizing the importance of unwavering belief. When the boy was brought to the Lord Jesus, ‘immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth’ (vs.20). This is how the enemy operates – he amplifies situations to instill doubt, presenting them as though no remedy had been administered and that instead they are getting even worse, but we know better! Remember, what may seem overwhelmingly difficult in the physical realm is often a mere illusion when viewed through the lens of God’s truth. so, let us train ourselves to trust God regardless of what our senses observe, knowing that He will come through for us just as He has countless times before.
As we read further, we witness the father’s attempt to shift the responsibility solely to Jesus, pleading, ‘But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us‘ (vs. 22b). Church, it is important for us to recognize our role in experiencing the miraculous in our lives, we too have a part to play. That is why Jesus responded by telling the father, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (vs.23). Unbelief can hinder what God desires to do for us, as seen in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, where ‘ … He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief’ (Matthew 13:58). The people’s familiarity with Jesus, his background and upbringing, made it challenging for them to recognize His power and ability to perform mighty works. This serves as a reminder not to become too familiar and accustomed to the anointing, lest we limit its effectiveness for us. Delving further into the passage, we see that faith and unbelief can coexist, as illustrated by the father’s plea to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (vs.24). Unfortunately, many of us often find ourselves in this state of double-mindedness, hindering us from receiving anything from the Lord. James 1:6-8 warns against this, saying, ‘But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his way’. After Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, ‘it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour’ (Matthew 17:18). Although we may not always witness an immediate resolution of the situation we are facing or experience instant relief, it is important to perceive that in the spiritual realm, things have already begun to shift in the right direction.
‘Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” ‘ (Matthew 17:19-20). Jesus here used the analogy of a mustard seed to illustrate the importance of pure and uncontaminated faith. Romans 12:3 reminds us that ‘… God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith’, indicating that the issue is not a lack of faith, but the presence of unbelief, that inhibits us from grabbing ahold of the promises of the Lord. Therefore, our focus should not be on attaining more faith, but on addressing doubt and unbelief head-on, by submitting ourselves to systems that provide a constant intake of the Word. Further, Jesus said to them, “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (vs.21). The “this kind” He is referring to here is unbelief, teaching that it will be through consistent prayer and fasting that the disciples overcome the unbelief that is born through natural life experiences that have hardened the heart. These spiritual disciplines align our senses with the Word of God and our thoughts with His truth, softening our hearts and allowing us to believe without a shadow of doubt.
In closing, let us consider apostle Paul’s admonition to the Hebrew church regarding the importance of spiritual maturity in our faith journey. Paul likened spiritual maturity to transitioning from consuming milk to consuming solid food, saying, ‘For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil’ (vs.13-14). When we are mature in faith, we understand that we have right-standing with God, that God loves us and will never forsake us – that is what it means to be skilled in the doctrine of righteousness. Spiritual maturity means realizing that challenges are inevitable in this journey of faith, yet enduring the hardships of kingdom business and forging ahead to spread the message of reconciliation entrusted to us (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). It is a journey of constantly training our senses to shift from reasoning to a place of spiritual discernment, discerning good from evil. Therefore, let us all endeavor and strive to come to this place of maturity, where our natural inclinations align with the promptings of the Spirit.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the guidance and wisdom Your Word offers. Thank You for illuminating the areas in our lives where unbelief may be taking root, and for empowering us to address them. Help us, Lord, to continually condition our hearts to trust in You, even when faced with the most daunting challenges. In moments of doubt, may we continue to find strength in Your promises, assured that all things are possible for those who trust in You fully. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
