In other words, Jesus reveals an inconsistency between head and heart, and drives the boy’s father to the very prayer that God uses to bring about faith. This is exactly how we should respond as well. “I believe; help my unbelief!” should be the constant refrain of the Christian fighting for faith in a fallen world.
When we read Asaph’s declaration, “There is nothing on earth that I desire besides you,” and we recognize that is not where we are at, we cry out, “There is nothing on earth I should desire besides you; help me to desire you above all else!” And in God’s kindness, we trust that our hearts will be moved to greater affection and worship of the risen Christ.
Sing to God From the Heart
Our singing on Sunday is about proclaiming magnificent truth about God’s character and mighty works (Psalm 150:2). What do we do when our heart does not match the words we are singing? We sing with all our might as a prayer of faith, trusting God to use these very words to match our heads with our hearts and bring about the truth we are singing.
This is not hypocrisy. It is—to borrow a phrase from Augustine—one of God’s ordained means “to create what he commands.” It is an honest assessment of the deficiencies of our hearts, and a declaration of faith in the God who raises our dead affections to new life. If we are willing to give grace-driven effort to pray for God’s help and to trust him in our singing, then the song itself becomes a faith-creating agent in our own sanctification.
Therefore, we cry, “I have no longings for another! O God, help me long for you above all else!” This is not futile; it is faith.
