Will God?

"Because of your little faith," He told them. - Matthew 17:20

When Jesus' closest followers asked Him why they were unable to cast a demon out of a boy with epileptic-like seizures, He replied, "Because of your little faith." Some translations substitute the word "unbelief" in the place of "little faith," which perhaps sheds a little more light on His critical answer. Exactly how "small" was their faith? If you apply Christ's standard, their faith was smaller than a mustard seed, much smaller, for nothing is impossible for someone who possesses faith of that size.

I find this very challenging, even a bit chastising, don't you? While I long to believe God for the impossible, I don't always do it. Like Peter who stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus, the waves get too big and I begin to sink into what seem to be overwhelming circumstances, and I'm not alone. Those who followed Jesus then and the boy's father in the story struggled, as well.

I have learned that often for the believer the greatest doubt rests not with "Can God?," but rather, "Will God?" Lord, help us with our unbelief.

Surely we cannot imagine any certainty that is not tinged with doubt, or any assurance that is not assailed by some anxiety. – John Calvin