Our Scripture reading today is Luke 9:38-40.

Verse 40, "And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not."

This was not the first time the disciples had come up against a challenge of this magnitude.  They had previously been able to cast out demons.  The very first verse of chapter 9, we are told that Jesus gave them power to do such miracles.  Possibly this was a stronger demon than they had come up against in the past.  Ephesians 6:12 explains there are ranks of spiritual powers. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  

The greater need that was missing in the disciples was FAITH.  “They were confounded at their want of success-but not at their want of faith, which was the cause of their miscarriage!” (Clarke) Failure was a good thing in this particular case.  It taught the disciples that they still were in great need of the presence and power of Jesus.  If you are staring at a failure today, ask God how and what you can learn from it.  Failure can lead us to greater faith in a never failing God!