I Believe: The Author's View
by Vince Owens
You have faith; you know how important it is. But, have you ever felt your faith inadequate, and have trouble admitting it even to yourself? You are not alone.
One of the most moving passages in all the Bible, for me at least, is found in Mark, chapter 9, beginning in verse 14. There we read about a father who brought his son to Jesus to be healed. We know absolutely nothing about this man. We only see someone who was unsure, desperate, and, the thing that strikes me most each time I read that story, honest... brutally honest. Just listen to this:
Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
He didn't try to bargain with Jesus, or impress Him. "This is all I have," he admitted. "Please supply the rest." That's honest!
He didn't try to bargain with Jesus, or impress Him. "This is all I have," he admitted. "Please supply the rest." That's honest!
That brief exchange, especially the last phrase, stuck with me. Maybe it was the story's shocking frankness, or the King James's expressive elegance, or that this poor man sounded so much like myself. Whatever it was, though, planted the seed that became the inspiration for a new song.
I've written several songs, some of which I even like. The ones I have to labor over are usually best put aside, but this one just started flowing. First came the chorus, then the sole verse that tells this story. The essence of the song was complete in probably less than an hour. Of course, it always takes effort to adjust the meter and choose the most effective words to turn an artful phrase, and this one was no exception; but the song was down in short order. After harmonizing it, I brought it to a practice session we grabbed between appointments one Sunday, and we each knew then that God had given us a special song.
Time and again, we witnessed the power of the message in that song as we ministered live to audiences; "I Believe" became an encouragement to many who, like myself, are keenly aware of their sometimes inadequate faith, and honest enough to admit it to the Lord. It goes beyond anything I could have hoped that my dear friends, The Gospel Harmony Boys, would turn that little scrap of paper I pulled out of my pocket one Sunday morning into a beautiful recording, choose it to be the title cut of their newest album, and then release it to the nation's airwaves where it will reach millions. I pray that the song will continue to bless, as well as challenge you, its listeners, to have real faith. And, for those who do not yet know the same Jesus of this story, that they might come to know Him through saving faith.
I hope you will take the opportunity to request the song, "I Believe", by the Gospel Harmony Boys, from your local radio station.
Vince Owens, author of "I Believe", The Harmony Boys' latest single
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