This Shane and Shane song has been a favorite since I got the album several months ago and I’ve just got to write about it and share it with you now.
One of my favorite passages in scripture is Mark 9:14-29 when Jesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spirit. The boy’s father brings him to Jesus to be healed. He explains the symptoms and passionately begs Jesus to heal his son. He explains that he brought his son to Jesus’ disciples first but they were unable to heal the boy, and at this point in the man’s story Jesus interrupts and exclaims “you unbelieving generation! How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Then the boy’s father asks Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
IF? IF you can do anything? That’s almost a dare that God can’t resist! I’m tempted to use this kind of statement next time I really want something from God… “Hey God, you probably can’t do this thing, it’s probably too difficult for you, but could you maybe try?” Just to see God dramatically prove His sovereignty and majesty. Don’t worry though, I’m not going to do it – I believe God desires more than anything for us to express our faith in him not our lack of faith, and this passage is one time where Jesus spells that out pretty clearly – in fact I think it’s the main point of this passage.
Jesus responds to the man’s faithless request by saying, “If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.” And the father, probably feeling rather exposed, cries out in his passion, “I DO believe!” (wait for it…) “Help me overcome my unbelief…”
What honesty! What emotion! This desperate man was probably responding reflexively and defensively at first, “I DO have faith! That’s why I’m here? I believe you can heal my son, and I’m begging you to do it.” But then he realizes he can’t hide from Jesus the seeds of doubt within him (perhaps they were more than seeds – seedlings? Small trees? Full grown oaks?) And he admits his faithlessness while asking for help.
And Jesus responds by meeting both the man’s needs: he heals the boy, and he cures the man’s faithlessness (at least for a time) I’m sure.
This man displays the cry of my heart: Help me overcome my unbelief! I believe that more than probably anything else (anything!) God wants for us to live by faith. Scripture records Jesus as being “amazed” twice – once at the people’s lack of faith (Mark 6:6) and once for the centurion’s impressive faith (Luke 7:9). Jesus was actually hindered from performing miracles because of the people’s lack of faith (Mark 6:5, Matt. 13:58), and he regularly declared “it is your faith that has healed you.” There is power in faith! And without faith there is lack of power. And without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
But how do we achieve faith? Is faith something we can generate on our own? Not really; I don’t think so. I believe faith is gift from God that he gives to us. I believe we can reject faith; God can supply us with all the necessary ingredients of faith (which we cannot generate on our own), but we can neglect to mix the ingredients together, we can refuse to put the mix in the oven and let it bake within us. But I don’t think we can generate faith entirely on our own.
Which is where this song comes in handy! This is a great song to get stuck in your head; I find it really helps to be forming this request regularly “give me the faith to believe.” And I love that this lyric examines the fact that even when we don’t have faith, “even when I cannot see You You’re still shining, even when I cannot hear You You’re still calling out my name.” Whether we realize God is faithful or not, He is. Even when we don’t believe or feel that God is near us, or that He is in control, He is. That is faithfulness. He is worthy of our faith. He deserves and has earned every ounce of faith that we can muster up to place in Him. He is ultimately faithful.
May this song be the cry of your heart, and assist you in crying out to God to grow your faith – the most Christian thing you can do.
Faith To Believe (Shane and Shane)
Give me the faith to believe You
When I’m stuck here in my fear
Give me the strength to trust You
When my vision’s blurred by tears
Give me a hope for tomorrow
Cause today has gone so wrong
I’m on my knees
Give me the faith to believe
Even when I cannot see You, You’re still shining, You’re still shining
Even when I cannot hear You, You’re still calling out my name
Even when I cannot feel You, Your arms are open, Always holding on to me
Give me the faith to believe
You say You’ll never leave me, That Your love will conquer fear
You say Your day is coming, When You’ll wipe away my tears
Give me a hope for tomorrow, Cause today has gone so wrong, I’m on my knees
Give me the faith to believe
Even when I cannot see You, You’re still shining, You’re still shining
Even when I cannot hear You, You’re still calling out my name
Even when I cannot feel You, Your arms are open, Always holding on to me
Give me the faith to believe
Won’t You give me the faith to see the invisible
Give me the faith to believe the impossible
Give me the faith to receive the incredible
Oh give me the faith to believe it
Oh give me the faith to believe it
Even when I cannot see You, You’re still shining, You’re still shining
Even when I cannot hear You, You’re still calling out my name
Even when I cannot feel You, Your arms are open, Always holding on to me
Give me the faith to believe
Give me the faith to believe
And here’s the story behind the song:
