Why Faith Feels So Hard Sometimes

Following Jesus is the greatest calling we can ever receive, but it’s also one of the most challenging. We are called to be salt and light in a broken world, to live holy lives, and to daily take up our cross. Yet at the same time, God meets us in our failures with unending grace. This creates a real and ongoing tension: we want to honor God fully, but we often fall short.

This message unpacks that struggle by exploring a powerful story from Matthew 17 and Mark 9. It shows us two groups, one just beginning the journey of faith, and the other who should be seasoned, and how Jesus responds to both. Whether you’re brand new to faith or have walked with Jesus for years, you’ll find yourself in this story.

In Mark 9, a father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus, hoping for a miracle. He’s heard the stories, maybe even seen Jesus in action. But when he says, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us,” Jesus challenges him: “If you can! All things are possible for the one who believes.”

The man’s response is deeply honest: “I believe; help my unbelief.” It’s not a bold declaration of perfect faith, it’s a raw, emotional cry from someone who’s desperate but unsure. And what does Jesus do? He heals the boy. Immediately.

Jesus doesn’t require perfect faith, He responds to honest, humble faith. He meets us in our uncertainty, challenges us to trust more, and responds with compassion. This is the beauty of beginning faith: it starts with a simple hope that Jesus might help, and He always meets us there.

The disciples in this story had already followed Jesus, seen miracles, and even performed some themselves. Yet, when the father first brought his son to them, they couldn’t cast out the demon. Jesus’ rebuke was clear: “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you?”

It seems harsh, until you realize it’s said in love. Jesus wasn’t condemning them but calling them deeper. They should have known better, trusted more, and acted in faith. This is the reality of growing faith: it requires more of us. Not just belief in what Jesus can do for us, but belief in what He wants to do through us.

You may have had strong faith in the past, but each new challenge requires fresh trust. The disciples had faith before, but not for this moment. Jesus invites us to trust Him again, even when the challenge is unfamiliar.

Jesus doesn’t say, “You need more faith.” He says you need the right kind, a mustard seed of real faith. It’s not about quantity but authenticity. It’s not about your strength, it’s about trusting God's.

Past experiences with God should build confidence. When we face storms, we look back at His faithfulness and move forward in trust. Faith is like a muscle, the more it’s exercised, the stronger it grows.

In Mark’s account, Jesus tells His disciples that this kind of spiritual breakthrough only comes through prayer. Not just a prayer in the moment, but a life grounded in spiritual practices. Prayer, worship, fasting, and community aren’t just disciplines, they are lifelines that keep our faith strong.

So where are you today?

• Are you in the early stages, saying “I believe, help my unbelief”?
• Are you walking in growing faith but struggling with the next step?
  
  

Are you feeling stagnant or even spiritually dry?

Jesus isn’t pushing you away. He’s inviting you closer. He will meet you with grace and compassion, but He will also lovingly challenge you. And He will walk with you every step of the way as you grow.

Faith feels hard sometimes because we are living in the tension of what we believe and what we feel. But Jesus understands. He calls us higher, and He never stops offering grace.
Wherever you are in your journey, bring your whole heart to Him. Say, “Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief.” And trust that He will respond with love, with challenge, and with power.