Have you ever been in a situation so bleak that it seemed as though it would never change? Maybe things were going wonderfully in your life, and then suddenly you were hit with a severe illness or the loss of a loved one. You wondered how you would get through it.
In the New Testament book of Mark, we find the story of a man named Jairus, a ruler of the local synagogue. His beloved daughter was at death's door, and he felt that he needed to go to Jesus. Obviously he was a Jewish spiritual leader, but apparently he believed that Jesus had the power to heal.
He approached Jesus and made this amazing statement: "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live" (Mark 5:23 NKJV).
So, Jesus went with him, along with a large crowd. But as they made their way to Jairus' house, Jesus stopped and said, "Who touched My clothes?" (verse 30 NKJV).
Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman had touched the hem of Jesus's garment, which seemed insignificant. The disciples even said, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" (verse 31 NKJV)
TRENDING: America's most dangerous demographic
How easily Jairus could have turned to the woman and said, "Hey, hold on. What are you doing? He's with me!"
But Jairus didn't do that. He had probably heard the story about Jesus healing the demoniac of the Gadarenes and how he healed and forgave the paralyzed man who had been lowered to him through the opening of a roof. Jesus always had time for hurting people, so Jairus wasn't going to criticize him.
Sometimes God doesn't move as quickly as we want him to move. Yet God says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways" (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV). Often his timing is different than ours. We want things now. We live in a day of instant information. Our phones buzz or beep with the latest news, and we know what's going on in real time.
We get things quickly, and everything happens quickly. Yet God says, "Just wait." But we really don't want to do that.
We need to remember that God's delays are not necessarily his denials. Maybe you've been praying about something, and it hasn't happened as quickly as you wanted it to happen. You think God is saying no. That may be true. But maybe God is saying wait.
The woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment had a medical condition, and no doctor could help her. Mark tells us that she "had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse" (verse 26 NKJV). She thought that if she could just touch the Lord, everything would change. And she was right.
Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction" (verse 34 NKJV).
Meanwhile, as this beautiful story was unfolding, something tragic happened. Messengers arrived from Jairus' home and told him, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" (verse 35 NKJV)
I've stood in the shoes of Jairus. I remember distinctly the day I heard the unthinkable news that my son Christopher had gone to be with the Lord. To say that my life changed is an understatement. That is not something a parent gets over. But I got through it by hanging on to Jesus Christ.
Though it was devastating that day and is still heartbreaking to this day, I have hope. I know I will see my son again, because death is not the end of the road. For those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, it's just a bend in the road that leads to Heaven.
How devastating it would have been for Jairus to hear those horrible words. But Jesus, overhearing the messengers, said, "Do not be afraid; only believe" (verse 36 NKJV).
At that moment Jairus had to choose which voice he was going to listen to. Was he going listen to the voice of those who just told him that his daughter was dead? Or was he going to listen to the voice of Jesus, who was saying, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith"?
In the same way, we choose every day what voice we will listen to. Will we listen to the voice of God as he speaks to us through Scripture? Or will we listen to the voice of the culture?
Listen to the voice of God, who says, "I love you. I have a plan for you. I have a future for you. Trust me. Don't be afraid."
Jairus could have beat himself up over this and said, "It's my fault. I should've been more persistent." But we don't read of him saying anything like that. Rather, we see him trusting the Lord and waiting on him.
It's amazing to me that Jairus approached Jesus, humbled himself and begged the Lord to help him. After all, Jairus was high on the social ladder, a leader of the local synagogue. Jesus, on the other hand, was the son of a carpenter from Nazareth – not a city with a great reputation. Yet Jairus humbled himself before Jesus, because he recognized him not as the son of a carpenter but as the son of God who had the ability to heal his daughter.
But at that moment, Jairus needed something even greater than a healing; he needed a resurrection. Unbelief laughs at God's word, but faith believes for a miracle.
When he arrived at the home of Jairus, Jesus sent everyone out except for the girl's parents and Peter, James and John.
Then Mark tells us, "He took the child by the hand, and said to her, 'Talitha, cumi,' which is translated, 'Little girl, I say to you, arise.' Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement" (verses 41–42 NKJV).
Jairus had power and prestige, but he needed Jesus too. Everyone needs Jesus, regardless of who we are. And he is there for us.
Check out Greg Laurie's books and movies in the WND Superstore