Jesus said to him, "If you can believe.” Mark 9:23

This man’s son was demon possessed…..and he was dumb. The father, having seen the futility of the attempts by the disciples to heal his child, had little or no faith when Jesus turned up, and so, when he was called on to bring his son to him, he said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” Now there was an “if” in the question, but the poor struggling father had put the “if” in the wrong place.
Jesus, without demanding that he retract the “if,” kindly puts it in its right place. It’s as though Jesus was saying: ‘There should be no ‘if’ about my power, no ‘if’ about my willingness, the ‘if’ lies somewhere else.” “If you can??”. “No, friend, it’s ‘if’ you can believe…..all things are possible to those who believe.” The man’s trust was strengthened, he offered a humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus spoke the word, and the demon was cast out, never to return.
There is a lesson here which we need to learn. We, like this man, often see that there is an “if” somewhere, but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong place. “If” Jesus can help me-“if” he can give me grace to overcome temptation-“if” he can give me pardon-“if” he can make me successful? No, “if” you can believe, he both can and will. You have misplaced your “if.” If you can confidently trust, just as all things are possible to Christ, so all things will be possible to you.
Faith stands in God’s power, and is clothed in God’s majesty; it wears the royal apparel, for it is faith the King delights to honour. In the power of the Holy Spirit, faith becomes mighty to serve, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit, are possible to those who believe. Can you believe today?
adapted from C.H Spurgeon