“Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately spoke to Jesus about her. And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them.”
Mark 1:30-31 (NIV)
Simon Peter’s mother in law may not have even known who Jesus was yet, when she was touched by Jesus and healed that day. She had been lying sick with a fever, and the disciples interceded, by telling Jesus about her. He went straight to her bedside, and the moment His hand took hold of hers, the fever left and she was instantly healed. Not only was she healed, but all her strength was restored, and she went right to work serving everyone who was in her home.
The whole scene inspires us to believe God not only for healing, but for renewed strength to serve Him. The visual of Jesus taking her hand during a near death situation, may remind us of a time when we were once weak, sick, in danger, or feared for our life, until Jesus came along and took our hand.
The time I came closest to death was at the age of twenty, while working at a summer job as a day camp counselor. I was in charge of a small group of delightful eight year old girls. Every day there was a fun filled trip to a museum, planetarium, aquarium, or playing games and doing arts and crafts together.
One day each week was designated for a free swim in the pool. I was not a good swimmer but there was a lifeguard on duty, and the girls enjoyed their swim days. On that day, while playing with them in the pool, Bridget, who was more impulsive than the rest, decided it would be fun to jump on my back and cling to me as if I were a life raft.
I started sinking into deeper water, and with Bridget weighing me down, I couldn’t reach the edge of the pool, as hard as I tried. With all my energy, I tried to swim, but kept sinking, and was quickly becoming out of breath.
I prayed for help, but my life definitely flashed before my eyes, as minutes felt like hours.
It seems I should have drowned within those minutes, but some force moved me toward the edge of the pool, when my own efforts were failing. Whether it was Jesus who took my hand or an angel who was sent to rescue me, some divine force helped me reach the edge of the pool.
Coming that close to death, gave me a stronger sense of destiny. I have no desire to ever swim in deep water, but I gained a new confidence that God will send help to save and protect anyone until it’s their time to leave this present life. That notion leaves us with nothing to fear, believing God has an established number of days for every human life. (Psalm 139:16)
Believing this, increases our desire to seek God’s will because only He can give us strength to handle whatever we go through. We don’t need to fear sickness, it’s symptoms, or despair over any situation. When troubles come and we feel like we’re sinking in deep waters, Jesus is there, ready to take our hand.
There is an inner peace in believing the words in Psalm 23:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.”
Jesus grasped the hand of Peter’s mother in law, while she was in the valley of the shadow of death, but when He touched her hand, she was healed, and her strength was renewed. Her first reaction to being touched by Jesus was to get busy serving Him.
If we could peer into the unseen world all around us, and see how God carries out merciful acts every day, through many rescues and miracles of protection, it would probably blow our minds. Each time we hear of a miraculous story of survival, it confirms that Heaven is coordinating plans to save people, body and soul, throughout the world. The Holy Spirit keeps us on the right path through the number of days allotted to us in our lifetime. He inspires renewed confidence of faith in us, to reach our hand out at any given moment, knowing Jesus will take hold of it.
Lord, we trust that you are the one who takes our hand and lifts us out of deep waters. We pray you heal all those who need healing today and restore our strength so that we may serve you throughout the days that are allotted to us. Amen
