If you are struggling with unbelief, like the father in this story, be honest about it with God.

Look how Jesus gently reprimanded this man for his unbelief, He did not chide the man or yell at Him or treat him with disdain or embarrass him. Jesus didn’t say, “Are you kidding me. Haven’t you been paying attention to all of the miracles that I have been doing.” If Jesus had done that, the man would have hung his head in shame and walked away. But Jesus knew the man was speaking to Him very honestly about his faith when he said to Jesus, “I do have some faith, but not enough; Jesus, would you increase my faith?”

This is the kind of prayer God loves. The man did not try to use big faith words and ‘claim’ this healing as if he had more faith than he did. No, he expressed the faith he did have and then begged God to increase his faith. After he did that, Jesus healed his son.

“And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” (Mark 9:25-27).

Like the father in this story, God wants honesty from you today, too. Express both your faith and your struggles with faith to God and ask Him to increase your faith, and He will do it.

Pray this – My Precious Heavenly Father, I believe but help me in the areas where unbelief and doubt creep in because when that happens I am showing You that I do not have complete faith in You and Your Word. When I have fear, I am faithless. When I doubt You and Your Word, I am faithless. When I worry, I am faithless. When I try to fix my problems based on my own understanding instead of trusting You with all my heart, I am faithless. When I live in disobedience, I am faithless. When I fail to rely on You to provide my daily bread, I am faithless. When I do not give all my cares and burdens to You, I am faithless. When I do not give my strongholds to You, I am faithless. Father, I cry out to you: Help me with my unbelief! Thank You that You are always faithful! “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13). Father, I want more faith. Give me the wisdom to increase my faith, because without faith I cannot please You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.