"Jesus said to him, 'What do you mean 'if'? If you are able to believe, all things are possible to the believer.'"
— Mark 9:23 (TPT)
Setting the Scene
Jesus just called out this father's weak faith with one simple question: "What do you mean 'if'?"
Picture this scene: A desperate dad brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus' disciples, but they can't help. Now Jesus shows up, and the father says, "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
If...
This is Jesus we're talking about. The same Jesus who walked on water, fed thousands with a kid's lunch, and raised people from the dead.
Jesus isn't being rude, He's being real. This father just questioned the power of the One who spoke the universe into existence. It's like asking LeBron James "if" he can play basketball or asking Beyoncé "if" she can sing. Some questions reveal how little we understand about who we're dealing with.
"If you are able to believe"
Here's where it gets personal. Jesus flips the script. The issue isn't whether Jesus can do something, that's a given. The issue is whether we can believe He will. The limitation isn't on God's end; it's on ours.
"All things are possible to the believer"
This isn't prosperity gospel nonsense promising we'll get everything you pray for. This is about the realm of possibility that opens up when you truly believe in God's power. When we stop limiting God with our "ifs" and start approaching Him with expectant faith, we step into a dimension where impossibilities become possibilities.
Lets Get Into It
How many of your prayers start with "if"?
"God, if you can help me find a job..."
"Lord, if you can heal this relationship..."
"Jesus, if you can provide for this need..."
Don't insult God with doubt disguised as humility.
God doesn't need us to give Him an escape clause. He doesn't need us to lower our expectations so He won't feel pressured to perform. He's not sitting in heaven thinking, "I hope they don't ask for too much because I'm running low on power."
Our "ifs" reveal what we really believe about God's ability and willingness to move in our life.
When we approach God with confident faith instead of hesitant hope, we're not being presumptuous — we're being Biblical. We're agreeing with what God has already said about Himself: He's able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think.
Real Life Application
This week, eliminate "if" from your prayer vocabulary:
- Audit your prayers. Pay attention to how often you use conditional language when talking to God. Replace "if you can" with "I know you can."
- Pray with expectation, not just hope. There's a difference between hoping God might do something and expecting Him to do what's best. Approach Him with confidence in His character.
- Challenge your limitations on God. What situation in your life have you mentally categorized as "impossible"? Bring it to God without the safety net of "if you can."
Real Moments
"But what if God doesn't do what I'm asking for?"
Here's the thing, believing God can doesn't mean demanding that He will in exactly the way you want. Faith isn't about controlling God's responses; it's about trusting His character.
Sometimes God's "no" is His greatest miracle in your life.
But approach Him knowing that He can move mountains, open doors, heal bodies, restore relationships, provide financially, and change impossible situations. Don't limit the limitless God with your limited perspective.
Trust His power. Trust His wisdom. Trust His ability.
Prayer
God, forgive me for the times I've approached You with doubt disguised as humility. You've never been limited by my circumstances, only by my faith. Help me stop insulting Your power with my "ifs" and start approaching You with the confidence that comes from knowing who You are. I know You can do anything, and I trust that You will do what's best. Remove the limitations I've put on You in my mind and help me pray with expectation, not just desperation. Thank You for being the God who makes all things possible to those who believe. Amen.
This devotional is part of the Jesus is My Homeboy collection, where real faith meets real life. For more devotionals, visit fashionwear.co
Real Faith. Real Life. Real Ones.
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