What does it mean to trust God? What does it mean to believe in Him?

How easy it is to say, “I believe”, but are be willing to do what God asks us to do? Though Isaiah said, “Send me!”, do we say send me if it’s not too difficult, or not too awkward, or if it fits into my schedule, or if I want too? Do we trust in God completely, or only as it fits into our lives? After Jesus descends from the Mount of Transfiguration, he arrives on the scene of a conflict, a debate. A man brings his son, who has a mute spirit for healing to his disciples. They are unable to heal the boy, and instead of focusing on the father or son, the scribes and disciples are debating one another. Jesus quickly finds out what is going on, and the father now asks Jesus in Mark 9:22, “...But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” To which we read the short dialogue between Jesus and the father in 9:23-24, “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” This was a truthful and profound admission by the father. In Matthew 14:22-33, in the account when both Jesus and Peter walked on water, we read in 14:29-30, “So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”” When he believed completely, he walked on water, when he took his eyes off of Jesus and stopped believing, he sank.

The first thing everyone wants to assess is whether or not they are a believer. Have you accepted the truth of the gospel message, come to Him in repentance and surrender and accepted the gift of salvation that He alone is capable of giving? Then, are we believers or disciples. For Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, in the Great Commission commanded us to make disciples, not believers. A disciple becomes an active follower by assisting and embracing the gospel message. We have all written a script as to how we want our lives to play out. When it doesn’t play out the way we want, do we trust that God has a better script for us? This father recognized his unbelief and prayed to Jesus that he would be helped with this. May we all do the same. May we acknowledge those areas that we have not fully relinquished control to Him because of unbelief and trust in the One who has power over everything and anything. Lord, help us with our unbelief and deepen our faith that we may DO all that you have purposed for us to do, for your glory. In the name of Yeshua (Hebrew name of Jesus) Amen!