Persistent Problems

 January 29, 2023

Sometimes the obstacles just won’t go away. Whether it’s a high school or college subject that refuses to reveal its secrets to your brain, the biased professor or boss, the estranged spouse who doesn’t want to reconcile, the cancer that lurks tenaciously inside your body, waiting to strike. You’ve tried your best, consulted with experts, done everything you can think of, but the problem is still there, laughing in your face. And Jesus isn’t anywhere to be found.

The disciples were faced with just such a situation in Mark 9. A father had come to them, begging them to cast a demon out of his son. The man was desperate, and after doing everything they knew to do, the disciples were dismayed and discouraged. Jesus finally showed up, and instead of words of encouragement like, “You tried your best. Great effort,” he castigated them for their failure. He actually seemed a bit disgusted with them. He cast the demon out, and his disciples later asked him why they hadn’t been able to do so. After all, they had done everything he had taught them about healing and exorcism. Their problem was simple: they had the technique, but not the power.

He told them, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.” I’m sure they prayed, so what was the problem? 

I don’t think this incident speaks solely of demonic activity, though it includes that. I think this is a parable of every intractable, persistent and resistant problem. The real problem is that the things we want to happen don’t happen just because we want them. They come through prayer that is more persistent than the problem. Sometimes that persistence takes a lifetime to work itself out. And sometimes, the problem is that we’re praying for the wrong thing. We often want the problem to go away when God wants to use it to mold us and shape us for greater purposes.

I wish I knew why some prayers get the answers we want, and others don’t. Sometimes as Jesus said, it’s our lack of faith, but sometimes there are reasons beyond our knowledge. Years ago when our church was going through some very difficult times, in faith I prayed a prayer that God didn’t answer as I thought he should. 

We had been given $100,000 that the giver wanted to be a pastoral discretionary fund. Not wanting to risk being put in anyone’s pocket, I refused. I was hoping to use the money for missions, but as people left the church with their money, that $100,000 slowly disappeared as we struggled to make ends meet. One day as I was praying, complaining to God about the situation, he said to me, “What are you complaining about? I gave you $100,000 to tide you over till the church was back on it’s feet.” 

So keep praying. Keep believing. Keep putting one foot ahead of the other. The answer might not come as you expect, but God remains faithful. Of that, I have no doubt.