The statement “I believe; help my unbelief” comes from a powerful story in the Gospel of Mark about a father seeking healing for his demon-possessed son. The full verse reads:
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 ESV)
To understand the meaning behind this profound statement, we must look at the context surrounding it in Mark 9:
The Context in Mark 9
Jesus had just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James and John (Mark 9:2-8). A large crowd met them when they came down from the mountain. A man in the crowd cried out to Jesus, saying:
“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able” (Mark 9:17-18).
This father was desperate for Jesus to heal his son, who was tormented by an evil spirit. Jesus responds:
“O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me” (Mark 9:19).
The disciples had tried unsuccessfully to drive out the demon, but they did not have enough faith. Jesus makes it clear that faith is required for this level of spiritual deliverance.
So they brought the boy to Jesus, and immediately when the spirit saw Jesus, it convulsed the boy severely. The boy fell to the ground, rolling around and foaming at the mouth (Mark 9:20).
Jesus asked the father how long this had been happening to his son. The father replied since childhood (Mark 9:21). The evil spirit would often throw the boy into fire or water to kill him. The father pleaded with Jesus:
“But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22).
Jesus responds, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). The boy’s father then cries out the statement that we are examining:
“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
The Meaning Behind “I Believe; Help My Unbelief”
When the father cried out “I believe; help my unbelief!”, he was confessing his faith in Jesus, but also admitting his need for more faith. There are a few important things we can take away from this passage:
- The father had at least some faith in Christ. Enough to bring his son to Jesus for healing. He cried “I believe!”, professing faith in Jesus.
- But the father humbly admitted his faith was imperfect. “Help my unbelief!” he pleaded. He knew his faith was mixed with doubt.
- The father knew only Jesus could heal his son. He brought the boy directly to Christ, the only One with authority over evil spirits.
- The father’s honest confession of partial faith was enough for Jesus to act and drive out the demon. Jesus responded to even mustard seed-sized faith.
- After rebuking the evil spirit, Jesus healed the boy completely and restored him to his father (Mark 9:25-27). The father’s faith, though imperfect, led to wholeness.
This passage shows us that God is gracious and responds even when our faith is weak or partial. What God desires most is humility and honesty about the state of our belief. Even when belief is mixed with unbelief, Jesus can still act based on the faith we have.
Truths We Learn from “I Believe; Help My Unbelief”
There are several profound truths we learn from this father’s statement of faith in Mark 9:
- Genuine faith admits its own weakness. True faith is honest about doubts and limitations. It does not try to hide unbelief out of pride.
- Partial faith is still faith. Our faith does not have to be perfect for God to accept it. Even mustard seed-sized faith is still faith.
- Faith is a gift we must seek from God. Since faith itself is from God, we must ask for help to overcome our unbelief. Faith is not something we can conjure up entirely on our own.
- God can handle our doubts. We do not need to be afraid to admit our doubts and struggles to God. He is big enough to handle our honest questions.
- God responds to humility and sincerity. What pleases God most is when we come to Him simply and honestly, in humility acknowledging our limitations.
- Unbelief can co-exist with faith. Our faith is not “either/or” but is often a mixture of belief and unbelief at the same time. God understands this tension.
The father’s cry for help with his unbelief is profoundly human. His statement resonates with all of us who have ever struggled to believe. It is a deep expression of the human condition, caught between belief and unbelief.
Examples of Imperfect Faith Today
Many followers of Christ today resonate with the father’s confession “I believe; help my unbelief”. Here are some examples of imperfect faith common among believers today:
- A new Christian putting their trust in Christ but still shaking off old doubts and mistaken beliefs about God.
- A lifelong Christian struggling with doubts, perhaps about unanswered prayer or the problem of suffering in the world.
- Someone trusting God for healing but wavering when symptoms get worse.
- A backslider wanting to return to God but feeling guilt over their past mistakes.
- A sincere seeker unsure if God really exists but choosing to have faith anyway.
- A convert from another religion still wrestling with old views contrary to Christianity.
- A Christian with a certain amount of head knowledge but still needing it to move to their heart.
In all these examples, faith is mixed with elements of doubt, misunderstanding, past influences, or intellectual uncertainty. Many believers find themselves crying out along with the father in Mark 9: “I believe; help my unbelief!”
How to Increase Our Faith When Doubts Persist
Since the disciples of Jesus struggled with unbelief and doubts, believers today also frequently find their faith challenged or deficient. When we struggle persistently with unbelief, here are some ways to strengthen our faith:
- Pray as the father did, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Admitting our doubts is the first step.
- Surround ourselves with faith-building influences (the Bible, other believers, Christian media, etc.)
- Obey God in the small things we know, and then He will entrust us with more (Luke 16:10).
- Seek to know God’s character better through studying Christ’s life and teachings.
- Understand that feelings of doubt do not negate the presence of faith. We can doubt and still have faith at the same time.
- Keep our focus on Christ instead of dwelling overly on our doubts (Hebrews 12:1-2).
- Refuse to give in to cynicism, apathy, or inaction even when doubting. Keep seeking and obeying God.
As Tozer said, “Faith is imperfect. It brings us to Christ so that it can cease its work, and let Him begin His.” Our imperfect faith connects us to Jesus, who then increases our faith to new levels by His Spirit. Step by step, He helps transform our mustard seed of faith into a mighty tree.
Bible Verses on Faith and Unbelief
Along with Mark 9:24, the Bible contains many other verses that speak to the tension between belief and unbelief in our lives. Here are some of the most relevant passages on faith and doubt:
Matthew 17:20 – He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Mark 11:22-24 – And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
John 20:27 – Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Romans 4:20-21 – No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Romans 14:1 – As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Romans 14:22-23 – So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
1 Corinthians 2:5 – So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
This small sampling of verses reminds us that everyone struggles at times to fully believe. But in spite of our doubts, God does respond to even the smallest mustard seed of faith within us. Through His power and grace, He helps transform and increase what little faith we have.
Historical Commentary on Mark 9:24
Looking at historical interpretations of this passage can further illuminate the meaning behind the father’s statement “I believe; help my unbelief!” Here are some key insights from notable bible commentators over the centuries:
- Augustine: “From one point of view it is faith, from another unbelief: he believes that Christ can do it, he doubts because as yet it is not done.”
- Chrysostom: “If one is able to profess faith…let him say it without dividing it, let him not say one thing and think another.”
- Jerome: “Great is the understanding that the father had in confessing both his faith and his unbelief.”
- Aquinas: “We ought not to doubt that God will give right faith if we do what is in us to obtain it by praying.”
- Luther: “Faith and unbelief live together in every man…in this life we cannot separate the wheat from the chaff.”
- Calvin: “The defects of faith are frankly and honestly confessed…God cannot deal harshly with us for the small measure of faith.”
- Wesley: “What an admirable pattern is here before all who ask anything of God! ‘Lord, I believe: help thou my unbelief.'”
This sample of interpretations shows church leaders wrestling with the same questions we ask today about partial faith and belief mixed with doubt. Their commentary emphasizes humility, honesty and God’s grace in responding to imperfect faith.
Conclusion: The Tension Between Faith and Unbelief
Mark 9:24 provides deep insight into the human struggle between faith and unbelief. The father’s confession resonates with sincere believers through the ages who have felt torn between belief and doubt.
While his faith was imperfect, the father still brought his need honestly before Jesus. He knew that even a mustard seed of faith could be met with God’s power and grace. His humble prayer serves as a model for all of us to admit our doubts to God while still clinging in faith to Christ.
God honors even our initial, immature faith in Him. Though severely tested and tried, our faith does not need to be perfect for God to respond with compassion and power. We simply need humility, sincerity and that small seed of belief in Jesus. As we bring our struggles and unbelief to God, He will gradually transform our faith from initial weakness to bold confidence in His goodness.