Fear Not, Believe Only

By Jennifer E. Jones

Luke 8 tells the story of the woman with an issue of blood. It’s popular for Sunday School lessons and in pulpits across America. We all know the story.

Luke 8:43 begins with Jesus being thronged by a crowd of people.

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched." (KJV)

She was healed with just one touch of Jesus’ garment! This passage alone launched a thousand sermons and songs about God’s wonderful, merciful healing power. It still amazes us today how a simple act of humility and faith changed a woman’s life forever.

But, I’m not here to talk about the woman with an issue of blood. I want to talk about a man named Jairus.

Let's back up to Luke 8:41.

“There came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought Him that He would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.”

Jairus was obviously a man on the edge. In spite of his lofty position, he fell at the feet of a carpenter’s Son in utter despair over his daughter. He finally had the Master’s attention and almost got Him back to his house. But then…

This woman came out of nowhere and caused a big scene. Jesus stopped to talk to her. They had a whole conversation right there. While Jairus waited on the Lord, a servant from his house found him and said, “’Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master’” (Luke 8:49).

Here Jairus was in dire need of a miracle, and he was so close to getting that blessing. And, not only does someone sneak in and steal Jesus’ time, but his window of opportunity closed.

I bet you can idenitfy with Jairus. We have all waited on God and have seen others step ahead of us in line. It can feel like our blessing completely passed us by while God was busy doing something else.

I know I have felt like Jairus before. Years ago, I petitioned God for a husband. I fasted and prayed with the utmost faith that I would find real love.

I did not, but my roommate did -- and so did the roomate after her. I'll never forget the empty feelings I had as I watched friend after friend meet their respective Prince Charmings, fall in love, move out and move on.

I don’t know what Jairus thought, but I had a tough time not questioning God. “Uh, Lord, I'm happy for all these girls, but this isn't fair. I've been here the whole time. Have You forgotten about me?”

Lucky for us all, God knows our hearts. Even though Jesus stopped to bless another, He didn't forget about Jairus.

Jesus heard what the servant had to say and told Jairus in Luke 8:50, “’Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.’”

I like to think that if this were occuring in our modern day, Jesus would have said, “Don’t panic.”

That’s our first reaction after all. When we think that we have missed our chance, we freak out, go into mourning or sulk into bitterness. But that’s not always necessary.

Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Hold on to your faith, and you’ll have what you ask for.”

Eventually Jesus made His way to Jairus’ house. In the midst of the wailers and mourners, He said rather calmly, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth… Maid, arise” (Luke 8:52, Luke 8:54b).

I love that. It is so easy to think that our dream is dead when it may only be sleeping. With one word from Christ, it can rise again.

I don’t know what you are facing today, but at times we all find ourselves in Jairus’ place. Whether you feel passed over or completely ignored, I encourage you today to not give up.

You’re never an afterthought to the Prince of Peace. He knows all, sees all, and is touched with the things that trouble you. He knows your suffering and how it hurts sometimes to wait. However, He is on His way to your house to take the remains of your dream and resurrect it.

Just have faith. “Fear not, believe only."

Daily Devotion

Fear Not, Believe Only

By Jennifer E. Jones

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