A father came to Jesus desperate for help. His son’s body often succumbed to violent epileptic fits, causing him to fall into fire or into the water. Every waking moment was dedicated to protecting his child from injury. There were no pills to take, no acupuncture, no process that could bring relief. God was this child’s only hope.
At first the father had brought his son to the disciples. He had heard of this band of men whom miracles surrounded everywhere they went. And the disciples did pray for the son, but to no avail. The poor boy immediately went into yet another disfiguring convulsion. Looking up the father saw Jesus walking down the side of the hill with three of his men (Peter, James and John). Immediately he ran to him.
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely… I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Jesus said, “Bring him to me.” And he healed the child (Mathew 17:14-18)”. The disciples asked Jesus why they had not been able to heal the boy. Jesus told them it was because of their unbelief. “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Mathew 17:21).
Many interpret Jesus’ words as meaning the boy could not have been healed except the disciples first prayed and fasted. However, there is another way to look at what Jesus said. His words could be telling us that doubting will leave as we pray and fast.
Spending time in God’s presence certainly does relieve us of the weight of doubt.
