NO TIME TO GO WOBBLY...

Matthew 9:23-24
During the early stages of the war with Saddam Hussein there was a phone conversation that took place between then President George H.W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thacker.  Both world leaders realized that this was a critical situation and direct action must be taken quickly and decisively. Mrs. Thacker said to President Bush, “This is no time to go wobbly…”
According to the Oxford English dictionary; “Wobbly” = tending to move unsteadily from side to side. This man in our text finds himself in a situation that calls for decisive and definitive action…but, he is in danger of going ‘wobbly’.
Perhaps no greater concerns grip the hearts of parents than when the care of our children is beyond our physical control. Many have been the times that I would have taken the pain, the illness or the emotional hurts of our children upon myself rather than to see them suffer.
The father of this text (be sure to read the context in verses 1-25) seems to express the heartfelt concern for his son who was in a Crisis situation, being under the Control of a demonic spirit. His Concern is seen in that he, after the disciples could not help, continued in his search for help until he came to Jesus and asked for Compassion (vs 22).
In verse 23, we see the Concern of Jesus, who told the man, “If you can believe…” emphasizing that faith is essential to answered prayer. The Cry of the father is in verse 24, where he admits that while he has some faith, there remains a certain amount of doubt…he is in danger of ‘going wobbly’!
It is at the Crisis times in life that we must not ‘go wobbly’ in our faith. Turn doubt into determination by trusting God to do what He can do!
 
Inspired by the text from  1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” KJV,  the Reverend John H. Yates wrote the text to FAITH IS THE VICTORY, to which Ira D. Sankey later wrote the music.  The next time you are tempted to ‘go wobbly’, perhaps singing this old hymn will prove to be a source of encouragement!