I Think I Can’t, I Think You Can

The Little Engine that Could is a moralistic tale that elevates the power of positive thinking. In the story, a stranded train tries in vain to find an engine who will take it over the mountain to deliver its goods to little children. Finally, it finds a little blue engine who, while repeating the mantra, “I think I can, I think I can” is able to accomplish what had before hardly seemed possible.

This is a cute little story that is, in fact, entirely nonsense. All of us know that thinking positively about our own abilities is simply not enough. But if we change the little engine’s mantra just a bit we have a fairly accurate summary of what the Father of a demon-possessed boy tells Jesus in Mark 9 (v. 14-29). The man in this story doesn’t say, “I think I can, I think I can.” Ins­tead he says to Jesus, “I think I can’t, I think you can.”

This man faced a seemingly insurmountable problem. A demon had been casting his child into fits since childhood. In face of this huge problem the Father asks for two things that God loves to give, namely compassion and help (v. 22). But he prefaces these two requests with a bit of skepticism: “If you can do anything…” He does believe that Christ can help him otherwise he wouldn’t have asked. But he does have his lingering doubts. He doesn’t say, “you can do anything!” But, “If you can do anything.”

After Jesus replies by telling him that “All things are possible to him who believes” this father gives one of the simplest expressions of humble faith found in the Bible. It is a saying that every child of God can resonate with and it is definitely not “little blue engine” theology. He says, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (v. 24). This confession demonstrates faith without arrogance or presumption. And it gives us four points for dealing with the unbelief that every Christian experiences.

First, admit a problem.

We need to be real about our unbelief. Part of being real is understanding the limitations of our faith. Part of being real is using the labels that God has provided, not the ones we invent. Our “failures” or “slip-ups” are actually manifestations of unbelief. Every moral failure is ultimately a failure to believe the gospel. When we get angry when others let us down, for example, we may be failing to believe that God’s love is a sufficient comfort.

Notice, how this confession is made to Christ but in the presence of witnesses. We should get in the habit of being real with others about our unbelief.

Second, identify specifics.

This man had a general trust in Christ but he specifically had doubts that his son could be healed. This father had for years seen his son ravaged by this spirit. He had lost hope that anything could help him.There are areas in your life in which you have relinquished hope in God. Have you become content with your anger or rudeness, suspecting that God cannot provide a solution? Do you doubt that God can improve your marriage? Do you disbelieve that God can convert your neighbor? Where is your unbelief?

Third, re-pledge trust in God.

Something powerful happens when we verbally and sincerely communicate our faith in God to God. God loves to hear his children confirm their trust in him. Even when we are filled with doubts, it is important to focus our faith on God.

Fourth, ask God for help.

Come to Christ with your unbelief. Ask him to overcome your doubts. In the midst of our problems we tend not to look to God for help. We tend to try to make it on our own: “I think I can, I think I can.”" John Calvin suggests that this type of attitude is indicative of people who are engaged in a “mock-battle.” We need to realize that our enemy is real and strong. If we approach our troubles with the self-sufficient nonsense that the little blue engine did, we are certain to fail.

In this story, in the face of huge problems, Christ does what no one else could do. He rebuked the demon and healed the boy. On the cross, Christ issued the conclusive rebuke of Satan. Calvin says that “Christ has come to bridle his rage.” The only power we have to face trouble is God’s. In light of this, one of the best ways to face our problems is to turn to God and say: “I think I can’t, I think you can.”