The Power of Simple Faith
By E. HILLIARD
Do Not Despair — Cure for Unbelief No appeal to the Saviour of men, made in simple, childlike faith, was ever passed by unnoticed. When Christ was upon earth, there came to His disciples an anxious father, presenting his son, who was grievously afflicted with an evil spirit, to be healed. It appears that they were unable to cast out the demon. A great multitude gathered about the defeated disciples, and began to ply their questions. Presently Christ, who had just descended from the mount of transfiguration, in company with Peter, James, and John, came upon the scene, and inquired, “What question ye with them?” The father “answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away. . . . And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” A number of the disciples having failed, the father doubted if the Master was able to effect the cure. So his petition for help was burdened with doubt. Said he, “If Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” The great Physician replied to his prayer in language that demanded the exercise of unwavering faith. His answer was, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” At this point, many would have given up in despair, or turned away with bitter murmuring. But not so with that burdened father. In tears he threw his helpless, unbelieving soul upon the Saviour in prayer. He exercised his will on the side of faith, and in soul agony cried out, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.” This was all that the poor man could do. His prayer touched the heart of our compassionate Redeemer, and He rebuked the foul spirit, and commanded it to come out of him, “and enter no more into him.” The demon obeyed. The son was healed, and the father was cured of his unbelief. But how different was the prayer of the dying leper who knelt before the great Healer of soul and body, and prayed for help! Said he, “If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” The Saviour quickly replied, “I will; be thou clean”; and “immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” Notice the difference in these petitions. “If Thou canst,” said the anxious father. “If Thou wilt,” said the dying leper. Our Redeemer loves to have us put our trust in Him. He always will respond to the prayer of faith. It is cruel unbelief that defeats the work our pitying Saviour longs to do for sinful men. If, like the afflicted father, every unbeliever would only cry out in tears, and cast his helpless soul on Christ, praying from the heart, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief,” divine aid would be given, and doubt and unbelief would disappear. Many of the sick would be healed, and souls would be saved. Or if, like the leper, we would exercise childlike faith in Him who has given His life as a pledge of His love, many souls would be delivered from the leprosy of sin, and even healed of their physical maladies. “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”