Through Prayer

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet Jesus. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Mark 9:14-29 

Spending these last few days with our young grandchildren, I have thought a great deal about raising our own children. I learned to pray then because when so exasperated and overwhlemed, it was finally the only other thing I knew to do. After a while it became a habit. Didn't make thing much easier in those intense, but it changed me and how I looked at things.  I was not alone and did not need to worry about being right and in control of everything. None of my children, nor myself needed to be oerfect. They needed to know they were loved and never alone in the struggle of being growing up and being human.

Jesus healed a child tormented. Folks have speculated that what is described as demon possession might have been epilepsy. We don't know exactly, but we do know that critical, life threatening illnesses and behaviors can destroy families. Not just the sick child, but all relations because of the strain. We are reminded today that when we feel helpless and there's nothing to do, we can still pray. We can pray through the worst nd find ourselves, less alone and even empowered to act and take a new path.

Today, I ask God to help me put all of the vexing problems and worries of life to prayer. May we all give up to God, so that God can change us into those who live for love and compassion.