Struggling with Doubt? How Jesus Helps You Overcome Unbelief - October 10, 2025

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“‘… But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’” said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” – Mark 9:22-24, NIV

Sometimes life in this fallen world brings you to a place where your faith weakens. You know God is powerful. You’ve heard the stories, read the promises, and experienced God’s answers to your prayers before. But new challenges can hit you anytime, and doubt can sneak into your life. It happens to everyone sometimes. 

That’s exactly how the father in Mark 9 felt. His son had been suffering for years under the grip of an evil spirit. Nothing worked to help the boy, and the situation seemed hopeless. When the father came to Jesus, he wanted to believe that Jesus could help, but he struggled with unbelief. He was torn between hope and despair. 

But Jesus reminded the father that with God, nothing is impossible. The father’s response is honest: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” He admitted his faith was weak, but he didn’t stop there. He turned to Jesus and asked for help with what he needed. 

You don’t have to hide your doubts from God. You can bring them to him, confess them openly, and ask him to give you the faith you’re missing. Your unbelief doesn’t disqualify you from God’s help. Instead, it’s actually an invitation to lean on God even more. When your faith is small, God can grow it! 

The father who asked Jesus for help recognized that faith and doubt were in his heart simultaneously. That’s natural sometimes in this fallen world. You want to trust God fully, but you’re struggling with worry. You want to believe God’s promises, but your circumstances look overwhelming. We’ve all gone through challenges like that. 

Jesus didn’t walk away because the man’s faith was imperfect. He responded to the father’s request by healing the son. Jesus will be patient with you, too. You can trust Jesus to meet you where you are and help you take the next step of trust. 

Faith doesn’t mean you never struggle. Faith means you keep turning to God, even when you struggle. Just believe enough to bring your doubts to Jesus. Every time you do, he will help you overcome them. 

So, don’t worry when you’re struggling with doubts. You don’t need perfect faith for God to move. You need honest faith to ask Jesus to help you believe. When you pray that way, Jesus will be there for you!

Let’s pray:

Dear Jesus, I believe in you, but I admit that I also sometimes doubt you. I don’t always understand what you’re doing, and fear often tries to take control of my thoughts. Like the father in Mark 9, I want to tell you: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Lord, I confess that my faith isn’t always strong. I get discouraged by what I see and wonder if things will ever change. But I choose right now to bring my faith and doubts to you. I know you’re patient with me and don’t turn away from me when I struggle. Please strengthen me, Jesus. Grow my faith and help me trust you more completely. Remind me that everything is possible for the one who believes – not because of my strength, but because of your power. Teach me to focus on you instead of on my fears. Help me remember that you’re faithful, keep your promises, and that nothing is too hard for you. I give you my concerns, worries, and questions. In exchange, please give me your peace, courage, and confidence. Help me walk daily in faith, based not on the circumstances I can see, but by what I know is true in your Word. Thank you for meeting me where I am and helping me, even when I feel unworthy or weak. Thank you for being greater than my doubts. I trust you, Lord. Amen.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/PhotoAlto/EricAudras

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

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