…“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

In the midst of trials and temptation, we can often become clouded by our circumstances and allow ourselves to question God. We believe that He is God and we believe that He is good, but a part of us may not. We question His intentions, provision or power in our lives because we may not understand, or believe in, His plan or His goodness.

We must hold fast to the truth that we have never been guaranteed a utopian life in the present moment. We will never experience “heaven on earth” – we are depraved and sinful individuals, living in a fallen world. James 1:2 states, “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Notice how this verse says when we experience trials, not if we experience them. Trials will come, but we have hope. In our salvation, we have been gifted with the Holy Spirit.

“…and [the Father] will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14: 16-17.)

The Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26), brings to remembrance the words of Jesus (John 14:26) and guides us into truth (John 16:13). Through the Spirit, God is with us and He is able to actively work in our lives. In the deepest trenches, at the core of the chaos, confusion and monotony of our lives, God is there. Do we truly believe that?

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Unbelief can often be found at the root of many of our sins. We become unsettled, frustrated or disobedient when both small and big things don’t play out the way that we want them to. I love the way that author Elyse Fitzpatrick describes it; she says that unbelief is a “refusal to believe that God loves us and is lovingly ruling over our lives.” Lift up your fears and unbelief today to the only One who can stifle those fears and replace your unbelief with an unstoppable faith.

What is the difference between faith and unbelief? “Faith purifies the heart and unbelief keeps it impure. Faith brings us near to God when we are far from Him, but unbelief puts us far from God when we are near to Him. Faith will give comfort in the midst of fears, but unbelief causes fear in the midst of comfort. Faith makes great burdens light, yet unbelief makes light burdens heavy.”

Are you desperate for Jesus’ presence in your life? Do you believe that He is good, that He loves you and desires good for you? Fight for your belief today and remember that God honors that fight.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7.)