“While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 5:35-36 (NIV)
When Jairus summoned Jesus, time was of the essence. His daughter was dying and he needed Jesus urgently. Jairus was probably overcome with fear, in the moment that his friends told him that it was too late, because his daughter had already died. Those words had to be a gut punch for him. He had so much hope and faith that Jesus would come just in time, to heal his young daughter, but it appeared that Jesus was a few hours too late.
Just when Jairus received the devastating news that his daughter died, Jesus told him “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” What if just when our hopes were crushed, Jesus spoke those same words to us while we were praying? What would our response be?
Jesus was never late, He just lived according to God’s perfect timing. He was meant to arrive at Jairus’ home after his daughter died, to bring glory to God by raising her from the dead. His little girl was one of three people in the gospels who were resurrected from the dead. When we think God is late in answering our prayers, we must remember He has reasons for His timing.
In the story of Lazarus being resurrected, Jesus was thought to be four days too late. He told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even if they die.” His message is always about believing, despite the way things may appear to us.
In another instance of Jesus raising someone from the dead, He walked into a funeral procession while it was in progress, which obviously looked like he arrived too late. We don’t hear this gospel story as often as the first two, but it says that Jesus felt pity for the mother, who was a widow, weeping as the body of her only son was being carried to a burial place.
Jesus told the widow not to weep and then touched her son’s coffin, saying, “Young man, arise!” Immediately, the young man came to life, sat up and talked. This miracle happened in the village of Nain, in the area of Galilee. (Luke 7:11–17)
These three stories of resurrection involved three people who all died prematurely. Jesus told their loved ones not to be afraid, not to weep and to only believe. We learn through these stories that Jesus may purposely delay an answer to our prayer, because He has a specific time in mind to do it, according to His reasons.
God’s purpose always seems to be about timing, even in Old Testament stories. He didn’t free the Hebrews from slavery until all ten plagues first came upon Egypt, and the blood was applied to every doorpost. He didn’t part the sea until the last minute as the people stood trembling at the shore, while the Egyptian army closed in on them. He didn’t send them manna, the bread from heaven, in the wilderness until the people were hungry enough to appreciate it. There seems to be a pattern of delay that transforms fear into faith before the answer finally comes.
Fear is an interesting thing. We cannot always control our initial fear reaction in the moment, but we can keep fear from setting up shop in our minds and hearts. That’s where choice comes in, as Jesus told Jairus “only believe.”
Our minds process about 50,000 thoughts a day, and it requires a very intentional and conscious effort to “only believe” as Jesus said. I am trying to practice this each day, by letting faith take negative thoughts captive, and prioritize my choice to believe Jesus, despite what I see or feel.
Scholars say that “Fear not” is a phrase that appears about 365 times throughout the bible. It’s no coincidence that it’s there 365 times. It’s enough for every day of the year. God knows that human beings are easily swept into fear but if we fill our hearts and minds with God’s promises, we will rise up each day with renewed faith that overcomes fear, and “only believe”. Without faith, we are told it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
There are so many things that we cannot take with us into eternity, like wealth, fame, and material things. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 13, that the three greatest things to strive for are Faith, Hope and Love. All three help us grow in purpose and meaning, but faith along with God’s timing is what brings healing, peace, leads us in the right paths and renews our strength.
Lord, we trust in you and pray our faith will take captive all thoughts of fear and doubt, and raise us up to only believe, as we wait for answers according to your perfect timing. Amen
