How Can We Overcome Doubt and Believe the Miracle of Easter?

"When Jesus saw that the crown of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. 'Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,' he said. 'I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!'

Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, 'He's dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up." Mark 9:25-27 NLT

I wonder if, when the boy convulsed and hit the ground, motionless, the father feared the worst. If he thought all hope was lost. Jesus' disciples had tried to cast the demon out but were unsuccessful. There are so many things and people we run to in life for cures for our ailments and to quench the appetites of what we desire in this life. Changes of circumstance, rights made wrong, misunderstandings cleared up, diseases cured, and lives saved, restored, and rescued.

"Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him,

'Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?'

Jesus replied, 'This kind can be cast out only by prayer.'" Mark 9:29 NLT

Maybe we have the head knowledge anything is possible for God, but we have a demon we've been unable to cast out of our own lives or the lives of a child or someone we love and care about. Perhaps we are the victim of someone else's demon or the sole caretaker left as the ailment has isolated its victim. It's ok to admit we're victims in this life as long as we don't allow that mindset to solidify our fate. Our fate is in the hands of Jesus, and as we learn from this story today, prayer is the way to access Him when our belief is under attack.

It's ok if we're not ok.

It's not always going to be ok.

Sometimes, there's no way for it to be ok here on earth.

It will be ok in heaven. And we hold onto that hope, and we pray to the One seated at the right hand of the Father, right there in heaven, to do what only He has the authority and power to do: help us in our unbelief.

Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at megbucher.com. She is the author of “Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,” “Surface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,” “Glory Up, The Everyday Pursuit of Praise,” “Home, Finding Our Identity in Christ,” and "Sent, Faith in Motion." Meg earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters …which led her to pursue her writing passion. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network. Meg loves being involved in her community and local church, leads Bible study, and serves as a youth leader for teen girls.