Embracing Belief: Trusting Jesus Amid Doubt

Summary

Belief is at the very heart of our relationship with God. From the earliest moments of Scripture, we see that God’s desire is for us to trust Him—not just intellectually, but with our whole lives. Like the father in Mark 9 who cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief,” we often find ourselves caught between faith and doubt, longing to trust God more deeply even as we wrestle with uncertainty. This tension is not a sign of failure, but an invitation to ongoing transformation, as we are shaped more and more into the likeness of Christ.

At the core of this journey is the person of Jesus—the Living Word and the Lamb of God. John’s Gospel opens by declaring that Jesus is not just a messenger, but the very Word of God, present from the beginning, the source of all life and light. This light is not a fleeting insight or a momentary feeling, but the divine glory that overcomes darkness and reveals the truth of who God is. Jesus offers this light to everyone, but it is not forced upon us; we are invited to respond, to believe, and to entrust ourselves fully to Him.

Belief, in the biblical sense, is not mere agreement with facts. The Greek word pisteuo means to entrust, to surrender, to rely on completely. It is a commitment that shapes our actions, our identity, and our hope. Through belief in Jesus, we are given a new birth—a spiritual regeneration that makes us children of God, not by human effort, but by God’s initiative and grace. This new identity is marked by unfailing love and faithfulness, the very hesed of God, which we so desperately crave but can never manufacture on our own.

The blessings that flow from this relationship are not always the ones we expect. God’s greatest blessing is His presence and grace, not just material provision or favorable circumstances. Too often, we become numb to these blessings, taking them for granted or missing them entirely because we are focused on what we lack. The call is to recognize that we are swimming in grace, to stop complaining, and to live in constant awe of what God has done and is doing.

Finally, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. This is not a symbolic gesture, but a powerful, transformative reality. Like John the Baptist, we are called to bear witness to what we have seen and experienced, to testify that Jesus is the chosen one of God. Whether we are struggling with unbelief or just beginning to consider faith, the invitation is the same: to bring our doubts, our burdens, and our hopes to Jesus, and to say, “I believe—help my unbelief.”

Key Takeaways

- True belief is more than intellectual agreement; it is a wholehearted entrusting of ourselves to Jesus. The biblical call to “believe” (pisteuo) means to surrender, to rely on, and to commit our lives to Christ, even when our feelings or circumstances challenge our faith. This kind of belief transforms not just what we think, but how we live and respond to God’s leading. [36:56]

- Jesus, as the Living Word, is both the source and sustainer of life and light. All of history, all truth, and all hope are found in Him—not as abstract ideas, but as a person who invites us into relationship. To the degree that we believe Jesus is truly Lord and Savior, we will trust Him with every other area of our lives, moving from mere admiration to daily dependence. [38:55]

- The new birth Jesus offers is a spiritual regeneration that changes our identity at the deepest level. Becoming a child of God is not about human effort or religious performance, but about receiving what only God can give through grace. This new identity is the foundation for living in the light, experiencing God’s love, and walking in the freedom of being fully known and fully accepted. [54:22]

- God’s blessings are rooted in His presence and grace, not in our circumstances. We often miss the abundance of God’s blessings because we become numb or distracted, focusing on what we lack rather than the grace we are already swimming in. The antidote is gratitude and a renewed awareness of God’s unfailing love, which never runs out and is always available to those who seek Him. [01:06:29]

- Jesus, the Lamb of God, not only removes our sin but baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live transformed lives. Our response, like John the Baptist, is to bear witness to what we have seen and experienced, testifying to the reality of Christ’s work in us. Whether we are struggling with unbelief or just beginning to explore faith, the invitation is to bring everything to Jesus and trust Him to do what only He can do. [01:14:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Struggle to Believe
[03:30] - Why “Believe” Matters
[07:50] - The Challenge of Trusting Testimony
[12:00] - Jesus and Our Everyday Doubts
[16:30] - What Does It Mean to Truly Believe?
[20:45] - The Book of John: Purpose and Focus
[24:10] - Jesus as the Living Word
[28:00] - Light and Darkness: Spiritual Awakening
[33:21] - The Testimony of John the Baptist
[36:56] - Pisteuo: The Depth of Biblical Belief
[48:37] - Jesus Offers Light to Everyone
[53:15] - The New Birth and Spiritual Identity
[59:29] - Living on the Bread of Life
[01:06:29] - Swimming in Grace: Recognizing Blessings
[01:12:58] - The Lamb of God and the Holy Spirit
[01:14:40] - Bearing Witness and Responding in Faith

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “I Believe; Help My Unbelief”

---

### Bible Reading

- Mark 9:14-29 (The father’s cry: “I believe; help my unbelief”)
- John 1:1-18, 29-34 (Jesus as the Living Word and Lamb of God)
- Ephesians 2:8-9 (Salvation by grace through faith)

---

### Observation Questions

1. In Mark 9, what was the father’s situation, and how did he express both faith and doubt to Jesus?
2. According to John 1:1-5, what does it mean that Jesus is the “Word” and the “light” of the world?
3. In John 1:12-13, what is promised to those who believe and accept Jesus?
4. The sermon described the Greek word “pisteuo” for “believe.” What does this word mean beyond just agreeing with facts? [[36:56]]

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus responded to the father’s mixture of belief and unbelief in Mark 9 the way He did? What does this say about how God views our doubts? [[35:17]]
2. The sermon said that belief is not just intellectual, but a surrender and entrusting of our lives. How does this kind of belief differ from simply agreeing with Christian ideas? [[36:56]]
3. John 1 says Jesus is the “light” that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. What does it mean for Jesus to be the light in our lives, especially when we feel surrounded by darkness? [[38:55]]
4. The sermon mentioned that God’s greatest blessing is His presence and grace, not just material things. Why do people often miss or take for granted these blessings? [[01:06:29]]

---

### Application Questions

1. The father in Mark 9 was honest about his struggle with unbelief. Are there areas in your life where you feel like you believe, but still struggle with doubt? What would it look like to bring those honestly to Jesus this week? [[35:17]]
2. The sermon challenged us to move from admiring Jesus to depending on Him daily. In what area of your life do you tend to admire Jesus from a distance, rather than trust Him with your decisions or struggles? [[57:46]]
3. “Pisteuo” means to entrust, surrender, and rely on Jesus. Is there a specific situation right now where you need to move from just believing in Jesus to actually entrusting that area to Him? What’s holding you back? [[36:56]]
4. The sermon talked about “swimming in grace” but becoming numb to it. Can you think of a recent example where you overlooked God’s grace or presence because you were focused on what you lacked? How can you practice gratitude this week? [[01:06:29]]
5. Jesus gives us a new identity as children of God, not based on our effort but on His grace. How does this truth challenge the way you see yourself, especially when you feel like you don’t measure up? [[54:22]]
6. John the Baptist bore witness to what he saw and experienced. What is one way you can share your own experience of Jesus with someone this week, even if you feel your faith is still growing? [[01:14:40]]
7. The sermon encouraged us to stop complaining and recognize the blessings we already have. What is one practical step you can take this week to shift from complaining to gratitude, especially in a difficult area of your life? [[01:12:58]]

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief,” bringing specific doubts, burdens, or hopes to Jesus and asking for a deeper trust in Him.

Devotional

Day 1: Help My Unbelief—The Struggle to Truly Believe
Belief is more than intellectual agreement; it is a daily, ongoing surrender of our doubts and fears to Jesus, even when our hearts wrestle with uncertainty. Like the father in Mark 9 who cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief,” we often find ourselves caught between faith and doubt, longing for Jesus to meet us in our weakness. True belief is not the absence of questions, but the willingness to bring those questions to Jesus and trust Him with our whole selves, even when we don’t feel it. In those moments, we are invited to lay our burdens at His feet and ask for the faith to trust Him more deeply, knowing He welcomes our honest struggles and gently leads us forward. [33:21]

Mark 9:23-24 (ESV)
And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel doubt or uncertainty about God’s promises? Can you bring that specific area to Jesus today and ask Him to help your unbelief?

Day 2: Jesus, the Living Word and True Light
Jesus is not just a historical figure or a distant deity; He is the Living Word who was with God in the beginning, the source of all life and the true light that shines in the darkness. This light is not just an intellectual understanding but a spiritual awakening that transforms us from the inside out, revealing our need for Him and illuminating the path to salvation. The darkness of sin and separation cannot overcome His light, and when we receive Him, we are given the ability to see and experience the fullness of God’s presence. The invitation is to receive this light daily, allowing it to dispel the shadows in our hearts and lead us into deeper relationship with Jesus. [48:37]

John 1:1-5, 9 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Reflection: Where do you sense darkness or confusion in your life right now? How can you invite Jesus, the true light, to shine into that place today?

Day 3: New Birth—Becoming Children of God
To believe in Jesus is to experience a second birth—a spiritual rebirth that gives us a new identity as children of God, not based on human effort or heritage, but on God’s initiative and grace. This new birth is a radical transformation, moving us from being part of a world in rebellion against God to being welcomed into His family. It’s not enough to admire Jesus from a distance or treat Him like a “rock star” we visit on Sundays; true belief means living daily in awe of Him, depending on Him as our source of life, and allowing our new identity to shape every aspect of who we are. [54:22]

John 1:10-13 (ESV)
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself treating Jesus more like a distant celebrity than the source of your daily life? What is one step you can take today to live out your identity as a child of God?

Day 4: Blessings on Blessings—Grace as the Greatest Gift
The greatest blessing we receive from Jesus is not material wealth or comfort, but the abundance of His grace—His unfailing love and faithfulness poured out on us day after day. We are often tempted to overlook these blessings, especially when they come disguised as challenges or when we become numb to God’s presence in our lives. Yet, the true gift is His presence and grace, which never run out and are available to us in every circumstance. When we focus on Jesus Himself rather than just the gifts we want from Him, we find ourselves swimming in blessings upon blessings, learning to recognize and give thanks for His grace in every moment. [01:06:29]

John 1:16-18 (ESV)
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Reflection: What is one “blessing” of God’s grace that you have overlooked or taken for granted lately? How can you intentionally give thanks for it today?

Day 5: The Lamb of God—Receiving and Responding to Jesus’ Sacrifice
Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering not just symbolic forgiveness but the powerful, transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. His sacrifice removes our sin, and His Spirit empowers us to live as witnesses to His love and truth. Like John the Baptist, we are called not only to believe but to testify—to let our lives bear witness to what we have seen and experienced in Jesus. Whether we are struggling to believe or standing firm in faith, we are invited to lay our burdens at His feet, receive His forgiveness, and respond with gratitude and boldness, knowing that every day is a gift of His presence and power. [01:14:40]

John 1:29, 32-34 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! … And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’”

Reflection: How can you bear witness to Jesus’ work in your life this week—either through words, actions, or a specific step of obedience?

Quotes

I feel like after like being alive for a million years I'm still like finding those areas of my life I'm like of course I believe but then there's some stuff happening in here then I'm like okay but help my unbelief so it's like either or it is like a constant state of being transformed into his likeness we're becoming more and more like him and I love to see it in all these areas but I'm just telling you it starts with believe. [00:28:53]

This concept, this word believe is so big and so powerful and yet it is one of the things that we struggle with the most. [00:30:23]

I don't think you would come if you didn't believe it, you know I mean like at a at a foundational level I don't think you would you would be here if you didn't believe at some level that God's word was gonna be preached and that you could trust it it's at some level. [00:31:01]

So wait a minute. Jesus, the King of kings, Lord of lords, the most sovereign. I'm like, I believed him enough to save me, but I don't believe him enough to lead my life? [00:34:18]

Maybe you're like me where sometimes I'm like, man, I feel like intellectually I believe, in principle I believe, but I can't get my core to fully believe yet. And sometimes that happens. I'm like, Lord, you got to help my unbelief. I do believe you, but there's this stuff going on that I'm having a hard time. [00:36:00]

But believing has to be far more than just acknowledging a fact. Would you agree with that? Like, you can say, I believe that chair will hold me, but unless I have faith that it will, then I won't sit in it. So in other words, there's got to be actions. There's got to be actions.back up what you're saying you believe but this kind of belief the pisteo is to commit my whole life to like i'm bought in hook line and sinker like you can't convince me otherwise no set of circumstances is going to change my mind. [00:37:28]

I'm convinced though that I would act differently if I focused more on what I believe than what I feel anybody if I focus on what I believe I will act accordingly so maybe one of the biggest goals for us is to line up our what we say we believe with what we're doing in our belief. [00:39:18]

But even the things that you don't get to see on this side of heaven will you still believe you know how many generations in the old testament these the israelites children of israel god's people they believed but many of them would never most of them would never see the next phase all of them were told about the coming of christ the perfect lamb the perfect sacrifice isaiah is one of the things we quote the most at christmas time prophesied about jesus none of them would get to see jesus but they still believed. [00:40:00]

If I don't believe that Jesus is legitimately Lord and Savior then I'm not gonna I'm not gonna follow him as lord and savior right. [00:43:10]

This word light is referring to ultimately the person of Jesus and then salvation that allows you to see that light because apart from salvation you cannot see the light the Bible says that the gospel that the gospel is foolishness to those who don't believe in other words they've been darkened by their disbelief but those who have been introduced and received the light the person of Jesus they can see things. [00:46:42]

Jesus offers light to everyone regardless, meaning I'm going to turn the light onto you, and one of two things is going to happen. One is you're going to receive that, and that's salvation. Or in showing you the light, it's going to be revealed to you, your need for salvation. But if you do not believe, it has still been revealed. [00:50:26]

You didn't wake up someday and say, I discovered my need for Jesus. No, you did not discover your need for Jesus. That was revealed to you by the light within the person of Jesus Christ. [00:52:40]

But to all who believed in him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn, not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. [00:53:53]

So in other words, Jesus has to be more than a rock star.He has to be more than something that on Sunday mornings you get really super jazzed about. But then tell me about what's happening again Monday through Saturday.So I'm just saying this all comes from what you actually believe about Jesus. [00:59:11]

This spiritual rebirth is like, is recognizing I have a new identity.Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, remember, says it's by faith.Well, it's by grace through faith. So by his grace, which allows me to have faith, faith, I can enter into this relationship called a second birth. [01:00:52]

This hesed love this is the one that offers love and faithfulness to our very core not just in our fields but he offers something else the fourth thing is he offers blessings on blessings how many have heard that phrase before blessings on blessings blessings on blessings well that's just right out of scripture. [01:03:46]

I'm looking past grace into what's in it for me and he's like no no you're missing it my presence with you is the win and my grace is why you don't die my grace is why you have salvation my grace youis why you're allowed to see me right now and experience me right now so the blessing upon blessing isn't what's in your bank account it's not in what's in your your your retirement it's not in whether you get to have kids or you don't get to have kids or whether you like your kids or not. [01:06:11]

He can't run out of grace because he is grace he can't run out of light he can't run out of love he can't run out of those things because it's who he is so if you have him how can you run out of him his infinite eternal ultimate gift is himself do you know that he never tires or relents in his love and goodness he doesn't get tired like we get tired. [01:09:09]

If you do not see the crazy blessings that you are currently swimming in, you will never notice the subtle additions from the Lord every day of your life. And the greatest way you can fix that, write this down. The greatest way you can fix that. Are you ready? Stop complaining. [01:12:32]

The Lamb of God is not a stuffed animal offered at Easter time.Literally, the Lamb of God removes the sins of the world. [01:13:46]

Listen, the Lamb of God doesn't just baptize with symbolic significance, but with the powerful transformative work of the Holy Spirit. [01:15:28]

Maybe you've believed you've stepped into that relationship with jesus but you're struggling to believe that he's not he's not forgotten you maybe you're struggling to believe that he's he's run out you know i mean like he's moved on like santa claus from one house to the next like your house is done maybe you feel like it's like a bonus like a christmas bonus you look every year every year you're looking forward to that bonus like jesus just shows up every now and then and gives you something good so maybe maybe you would just ask the holy spirit would you help me believe that every day is christmas every day i'm receiving gifts blessings on blessings on blessings i can't believe that you let me be with you jesus how are you not tired of me already do you know what i say and do and think like and you still want me to be with you like i feel like sometimes i don't represent you like i really want to i want more power through me where jesus so when that's not happening why would you not just put me aside and take somebody else and he's just like but because how many of you loved it when your parents told you because hated that but in this case i'm so thankful for it it's enough for me i'm like it's okay you don't have to explain to me jesus thank you. [01:16:12]

Chatbot

What is the true meaning of belief in Jesus?

How does the concept of grace shape Christian life?

In what ways does Jesus as Lamb remove sin?