Three Simple Keys to Hope when You Feel Less-than

Let me just begin by saying I have empathy. My sweet Pastor husband sometimes questions whether I have empathy toward him, but we both know when it kicks in for someone, I have a tough time seeing anything but the flood of emotions.

Empathy for Jesus’ Disciples

My empathy kicked in the other day when I was reading scripture. I was reading in Mark 9 when Jesus comes back from the transfiguration. Jesus encounters a crowd surrounding His disciples and the scribes in the crowd taking His disciples to task. A man had brought his son who was tormented by a demon and the disciples were unable to free the boy.

I recognized all sorts of emotions the disciples could be feeling; I loudly heard the questions I imagined running through their heads. Why can’t I do what others seem to do? Wouldn’t Peter, James or John be able to do this? Why is this so hard for me? Shouldn’t I be past this stage in my faith?

Dealing with Mark 9:19

With my empathy running rampant, I read Mark 9:19.

“[Jesus] replied to them, ‘You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’”

Mark 9:19

The interpretive voice in my head read the words as if Jesus’ voice sounded harsh, annoyed, and tired of dealing with those of little or no faith. I most likely read it that way because that’s probably how I would’ve responded. Sometimes when we teach, train, or help people and they struggle to grasp the lesson, we then struggle because we don’t have a fresh way to present the concept. We are at the end of ourselves, just like they are.

Looking for Hope

God’s Word is clear, we won’t ever measure up. And… there’s hope.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 CSB

Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. And even though we will never measure up, God still chooses to rescue us and offer us life with Him forever and ever. Amen?

Mark 9 Teaches us about Hope

But we still encounter circumstances, just like the disciples, where we are unable to do what we think we should be able to do. I don’t know if the disciples’ emotions were running wild like mine tend to do. I don’t know if they were asking tough questions about what they bring to the table. I don’t know if they were struggling with feelings of being ‘less than.’

Three Keys to Hope

Jesus Steps In

The first key to hope is knowing Jesus steps into the circumstance. Jesus asked what was going on, He listened to their response, and he took over when His disciples needed Him. I love the fact that Jesus didn’t berate the disciples. Later when they asked why they couldn’t drive the demon out (verse 28) Jesus doesn’t tell them they failed. Jesus doesn’t say anything critical except in verse 19.

It makes me wonder if we read verse 19 incorrectly. I can’t say for certain how Jesus did or did not speak. I am not a Greek scholar, or a deep-thinking theologian. My empathy speaks up though and I hear Jesus asking God, “How much longer God will I be trapped in human form, unable to help my disciples, my children, like I long to?” when He says in verse 19, “How long will I be with you?” I hear Christ wondering in His humanness if he will be around His disciples long enough to really teach them what they need to know.

The question “How long must I put up with you” is also translated “How much longer must I endure you?” (NET), as well as “how long shall I bear with you?” (Smith’s Literal Translation). When I consider the different words used, I hear Jesus asking, “How much time do you need before you aren’t always relying on me to do everything? How long do I need to ‘prop you up’ before you recognize the strength I have already given you?”

We Must Believe

The second key to hope is the truth Jesus speaks to the father of the demon-possessed boy. “. . . Everything is possible for the one who believes.” (Mark 9:23, CSB) Jesus doesn’t promise that each and every individual thing we want to happen will happen if we believe. He declares that anything is feasible when someone chooses to believe.

Prayer and Fasting

The third key to hope is prayer and fasting. Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” (Verse 28) is “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.” (Verse 29) Many translations add “and fasting” to the end of verse 29.

Prayer and fasting are not a formula, they are guidelines to further the process of believing. The time spent in prayer and fasting draws us deeper into a relationship where we live increasingly consistent in the presence of God.

Fasting is a way to devote ourselves more fully to prayer, to speaking with God and hearing from Him (Nehemiah 1:4, Joel 2:12,1 Corinthians 7:5). When we fast, we are affirming to God we need His wisdom (Esther 4:16, Acts 13:2). Fasting also teaches us to give up what we perceive to be necessary and learn reliance on God’s provision (Exodus 34:28, Luke 4:2-4). It gives us space to practice managing unexpected thoughts, feelings, and reactions as we learn to believe more confidently by consciously setting something aside.

Amazing Possibilities

Are you wondering today if you measure up? Do you question whether you bring anything of value to the table? Do you compare yourselves to others and see yourself as less than? Christ has hope to offer you.

He is waiting to step in if you need Him. He may ask you questions, but He won’t belittle you or give up on you. Jesus is able to do anything, He wants you to choose to believe Him. To help you on your journey toward firm belief, Jesus offers the guidelines of prayer and fasting. He wants to hear from you; He wants to teach you.

The hope that Christ has amazing possibilities in store for you is genuine. Believe.

Hope Photo by CARL HUNLEY JR on Unsplash