One of the most common things I hear in our society about God is that he can help us achieve anything including the impossible. This claim is not unfounded as angels, Jesus, and even God himself make this claim throughout the Bible. Focusing on just one instance in Mark 9:14-29, a man asks Jesus to release his son from the bonds of an unclean spirit that had taken over the boy’s body. The man goes to Jesus’ disciples first, but they are unable to cast the demon out. Jesus arrives on the scene and the man asks him to cast out the demon “if he can.” Jesus responds by saying, “All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy says, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Jesus then casts out the demon from the boy and proves to the crowds that the boy is healed. Then, an interesting conversation takes place between Jesus and his disciples.

The disciples ask Jesus, “Why could we not cast out the demon?” Jesus responds, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

I have this idea of the disciples with their “new-found power” going around and healing people. This boy is brought to them and they assume healing this boy would be no match for their new power, yet they were unsuccessful in their attempt. Seemingly in disbelief, they ask Jesus why this was and Jesus answers that this demon can only be driven out by prayer, insinuating that the disciples did not pray/ask God to heal this boy. Could this mean that the disciples believed the power was in themselves to heal but not God? Jesus seems to be saying that if they had prayed, they too could have cast out this demon. When Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, says to the boy’s father, “All things are possible for one who believes.” He was speaking as much to his disciples as to the boy’s father.

The take away is that though we may say we believe God can do anything, including the impossible, the impossible things don’t happen just based on our faith. We must communicate with God through the means He gives us which is prayer. Jesus says if we believe God does the impossible, then we will pray for God to do the impossible. So, as we go through our week, don’t just say your belief, pray your belief.