“Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”” Matthew 17:17-20 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/mat.17.20.NET

Jesus seems frustrated that His closest followers still don’t believe in Him or His commissioning of them and the power that commissioning gives them. Failure to execute His will is blamed upon a lack of faith. In the parallel of this story in Mark, failure is blamed on a lack of prayer. Prayer and faith are ministry partners. What are we praying for that we believe God will do and can do and wants to do so that our prayers encourage confidence in our asking of God? I admit to having very little faith and to praying too little. Why do I have such little faith? God has been gracious to me, and I have seen His hand in my life numerous times. I am ashamed that my faith is not greater. It seems I demand that God repeatedly prove that He loves and cares for me. This is not good. Perhaps this is because I am like a kid in a candy store, constantly asking God for the things I want rather than seeking to align my prayers with His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. My faith will increase as I see more of God answer my prayers, and more of my prayers will no doubt be answered as they increasingly align with His will, ways, and glory on earth as in heaven. Now my prayer echoes the father who came to Jesus for the miracle this story describes, Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief.