“Don’t Be Afraid”

Life is hard sometimes. God never promised us that we would not suffer or that we would not have problems . But He did promise that He was going to accompany us each step of the way . However, there are situations in which — even though we have asked for help and blessing — we do not feel He has answered . Perhaps Jairus , the synagogue leader , felt that way after he pleaded with Jesus to come and heal his dying daughter . Though Jesus accompanied Jairus , He stopped to heal someone else on the way . How much faith Jairus must have had to believe that if Jesus just touched his daughter , she was going to be healed !

When we are facing our own problems and difficulties , do we have the same faith as Jairus ? Do we pray with the same assurance ? After Jesus had finished healing another woman on the way to Jairus’s house , some people came from the leader’s house with a discouraging message . “ ‘ Your daughter is dead, ’ they said. ‘ Why bother the teacher anymore ? ’ ” ( Mark 5:35 , NIV ) . Jairus had seen Jesus heal others , but his daughter died . His world must have fallen apart , but what about faith ? Jesus , with His characteristic empathy , could understand what was going on in the emotions and mind of Jairus. Jesus told him, “ Don’t be afraid ; just believe ” ( Mark 5:36 , NIV ) .

Jesus knows that our faith falters when we do not receive what we ask for . He knows that fear floods in if what we expect is not fulfilled . Yet today , He tells us the same thing as well : Don’t be afraid ; only believe . Jesus went into Jairus’s house , where He said , “ Why all this commotion and wailing ? The child is not dead but asleep ” ( Mark 5 : 39 , NIV ) . Jesus redefined the situation , giving it new meaning and hope . In other words : “ It is not what you think ; go beyond . ”

Jesus took the child by the hand and said to her , “ Little girl , I say to you , get up ” ( Mark 5 : 41 , NIV ) . And the girl got up . Jesus did not answer the leader’s request , as Jairus had asked it . First , the father had to experience the desperation of his daughter’s death . Yet , in the end , Jesus responded to the father’s request in a way that glorified God the most . Therefore, if today you are living through a difficult situation about which you have asked God for help ( yet you have not received the anticipated answers ) , hear Jesus say to you, “ Do not fear ; only believe. ”

Cecilia Nanni