I think it's safe to say that there is no one more patient than the Lord Himself. Therefore, when we see Jesus display a moment of seeming exasperation, we ought to take notice. One of those moments comes in Mark 9, where Jesus says in verse 19; “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?" What causes such a reaction in Jesus? There is a boy possessed by a spirit that makes him mute, and the disciples are unable to cast him out, and it is causing quite a stir. Beyond this, and after this statement from Jesus, the boy's father says to Jesus; "But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." There is something erroneous in the man's request, which Jesus of course notices. It is the "if." The man comes to Jesus with some hope - but not total trust. There is still some doubt in his mind as to whether or not Jesus can help his child. After Jesus points out his hesitant and incomplete faith, the man famously and rightly asks the Lord; "I believe. Help my unbelief." He recognizes he has a half-hearted faith. And his half-hearted faith is also representative of the disciples' shortcoming. Why is it that the disciples couldn't cast out the spirit (which prompted Jesus' initial comment)? Jesus tells them; this spirit only comes out with prayer. This is what the disciples lacked. They tried this work without sufficient prayer; without adequately placing their trust in the Lord. Their problem was the same as the father of the possessed boy. They were guilty of insufficient trust in God and His power. Are we ever guilty of the same, of not trusting that God is powerful enough to do what He says He will do? Or of not placing our trust in Him in prayer, and instead trying to do His work and commands by our own prayerless strength? I think we have all been guilty of this in various ways at various times. For example, I know I have not sufficiently prayed for the Lord to work out salvation in nonbelievers I know. I'm sure there is lack of faith in me that needs to be rooted out. Mark 9 is a reminder and call to us to renew our trust and prayer in the power of the Lord and His ability to heal.