The Grip That Saves You | Mark 9:14-29

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Our text today is Mark 9:14-29:

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”— Mark 9:14-29

Jesus comes down the mountain and walks into chaos. His disciples are arguing. The scribes are accusing. A crowd has gathered. And in the middle of it all is a desperate father. He had brought his demon-possessed son for healing. But Jesus wasn’t there. So he turned to the disciples. And they failed. The demon remained. The boy was still suffering.

Then Jesus steps in. He sees the desperation and says, “Bring him to me.”

The boy is thrown into a violent episode. Foam. Convulsions. Fear. The father pleads, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us.”

Jesus answers with a gentle correction: “If you can? All things are possible for one who believes.”

Then comes one of the most raw, vulnerable prayers in the Bible: “I believe; help my unbelief!”

That’s when everything changes.

Jesus doesn’t demand perfect faith. He responds to honest faith. He casts out the demon with a word. The boy looks dead. But Jesus lifts him up by the hand—and he rises.

Later, the disciples ask the question we’re all thinking: “Why couldn’t we do it?” And Jesus answers simply: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” In other words, you tried to grip the situation—but you weren’t holding on to me.

There’s a truth buried in this moment in both situations that we all need to hear. Faith isn’t about the strength of your grip on God. It’s about the strength of his grip on you. We try to hold it together. Grip tighter. Fix the situation. Speak the right words. Muster the right belief. But at the end of the day, we’re not strong enough.

That’s why Jesus invites us to surrender, not to strive. He doesn’t require perfect faith. He honors honest faith. He’s not looking for your spiritual muscle. He’s looking for your humility.

So if your faith feels weak today—good. That’s where grace meets you. Let go of the illusion that you need to have it all together. And trust that the hand holding you is stronger than the faith holding on, and pray an honest prayer today.

#HeldByGrace, #FaithAndUnbelief, #Project23

ASK THIS:

Are you gripping harder when Jesus is asking you to let go?
Where do you need to admit your unbelief to God?
How does knowing God's grip is stronger than yours change how you pray?
What situation have you tried to control instead of surrendering?
DO THIS:
Pray the most honest prayer you can today—even if it includes doubt. Let God meet you in the weakness.

PRAY THIS:
Jesus, I’m trying to hold on—but I’m tired. Help me trust that your grip is stronger than mine. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
"He Will Hold Me Fast."