It’s easy to think you have strong faith until you are standing in a cemetery looking a headstone upon which is carved the name of someone you love. It was May 2024.

I drove home exhausted and rattled. I had seen the miraculous. I had dreamed the dreams. I had felt the healings. I’d received accurate and timely prophecies. But the emotional weight was pulling on my faith and it was dangling by a thread.

As I prayed before going to sleep, I thought of the story of the man who told Jesus, help my unbelief!

And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. ... But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, " 'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 

Mark 9:17-18, 22-24

I prayed a similar prayer: Lord I believe! But you have to help me here. You have to show me something. Help my unbelief.

I went to sleep and woke up throughout the night. I would wake up and be in a partial asleep, partial dream-like state. I woke up early into the night with the verse John 14:26 in my head, and then went back to sleep thinking I hope I remember this in the morning. I woke up a bit later with the verse Galatians 1:8 in my mind! I had never received two verses before. I later would receive a third verse, Romans 2:14. As I received the third, even in this dream-like state I was both excited and worried that I would forget them. Thankfully I woke up and remembered them all perfectly and in order.

Here are the verses followed by my interpretation:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:26

This verse directly connects to the request of show me something. It is a fulfillment of that request both at the moment and in the future. It is a reminder and an encouragement the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, will teach us all things and bring to mind what Jesus has said, which in this case came in the form of a dream. It is an invitation to continue to walk with the Holy Spirit and be open to what He shows me and tells me.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:8

This verse is to remind me of the truth of the gospel: that Jesus died and rose again through the power of the Holy Spirit, as a sacrifice for my sins, in order to reconcile me to the Father. Jesus is the one way! There are no others.

The third verse has become a favorite of mine, although it confused me when I first read it:

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Romans 2:14

For some context, it’s important to know that I am a gentile and I therefore am not under the law. What does it mean that I do what the law requires, although I do not have the law? Paul continues on, stating our conscience can help guide us:

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.

Romans 2:15

In reference to the law, Jesus says:

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:15

I believe the Lord chose these three verses to represent a path to live my life:

• John 14:26: Listen to the Holy Spirit who teaches
• Galatians 1:8: Know scripture so you cannot be deceived
• Romans 2:14: Act in a way that is guided by your conscience

My prayer for you:

Lord I pray for those who believe but need help in their unbelief! I especially pray for those who are dealing with grief. I pray for a release of their grief and that you Holy Spirit would speak to them and comfort them. In Jesus’ name amen.