This father was desperate. His son was sick. Every parent knows the heartache of watching your child suffer. Your heart breaks. You would gladly take his pain as your own to relieve his suffering. This is where this father finds himself.

He had heard the stories of Jesus and his disciples. His heart for the first time in years felt a glimmer of hope when he heard people were healed and delivered from years of oppression at the hands of Jesus and His disciples. This was his last chance to find relief for his boy.

He brings his son to the disciples. Now he has seen with his own eyes others delivered. He now has faith his son will be set free today. The disciples pray. But his son is not improving. They command, they rebuke but nothing. Others were delivered. Others were healed. But for his son, nothing.

Can you relate? Have you been contending for a child to be saved, a marriage to be restored, a body to be healed, a door of employment to be opened? Have you seen with your own eyes those around you healed, delivered, marriages restored, wayward children returned? Like this father, have you become disappointed, perhaps disillusioned that the commanding and rebuking that works for everyone else doesn’t seem to work for you?

This father’s heart no doubt began to sink when the disciples couldn’t heal his son. But he refused to give up. Jesus comes on the scene. He presents his son to Jesus. Jesus asks a question he never asked anyone else, “Do you believe.” The father respond, “I believe, help me in my unbelief.” His son is set free.

You may be like this father. You may have gone through prayer lines, you may have rebuked, commanded, stood on words of faith, laid hands on your own head to no avail. Your faith may be growing weak. But don’t give up. Take your situation to Jesus. Your faith doesn’t need to be perfect. Believe and ask Him to help your unbelief.

Like this father, your child will be healed, your marriage restored, doors opened for employment. Believe. Don’t give up. Your breakthrough is coming.

“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. (‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭15-18‬ NASB)