“Mountain top” experiences are memorable events. The transfiguration was one. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in his heavenly glory. It was a great experience! Peter wanted it to last longer. “Let us put up three shelters” (Mark 9:5).

Our faith is often weak

The trouble with “mountain top” experiences is that they come to an end, often abruptly! After experiencing the glory of the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples experienced the power of Satan at the foot of the mountain: “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. . . . From childhood . . . it has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him” (Mark 9:17,18,21,22).

Why weren’t the apostles able to drive out this demon? Jesus had given them that authority (Mark 6:7). What made this situation different?

Jesus diagnosed the problem. When the disciples asked him privately why they couldn’t drive it out, he replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20,21).

We all face hopeless cases that make our confidences waver. It could be a financial crisis or any other personal crisis. Illness in the family or loneliness could drain any joy we had on the mountain top.

How often aren’t we like the father in this account? “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). We approach God with questions in our hearts. We hate to admit it, but doubts are there too. Does he really want to help us? Can he really help us?

The Lord has mercy on us