Working on Believing

I've just finished reading 'Room' by Emma Donoghue.

 

I only got it out of the library yesterday and I have hardly put it down.  It is one of the most beautiful and mesmerising books I have ever read.  It is about a five-year old boy, Jack, who has grown up in a single room, without ever knowing anything of the outside world.  He believes that everything he sees on TV is just 'TV' - it's not real.  But one day, his Ma tells him that there really is a world outside.

He struggles to take this in and to believe that it is real.  And he says, "I'm working on believing."

 

Isn't that true for all of us?

 

Aren't we all working on believing and growing in trusting?

Believing in God.  Believing in His goodness.  Believing in His faithfulness.  Believing He really does care and He really does know us.  Believing He has a plan to bless us and prosper us.  The list of things we are working on believing could stretch on and on.

In the Bible, there's a story of a conversation Jesus had about believing with a man whose son had suffered from seizures since he was little.  The man told Jesus,

“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

[Mark 9:21-24 NIV, emphasis mine]

Everything is possible for him who believes.  I don't believe this.  Yet.  But I want to.

We are all working on believing.  And God will help us if we ask Him.