Keep on Believing

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

He was so hopeful. His daughter was deathly ill, but a Healer was on the way. There was a short pause as He dealt with another, a woman who had a continual flow of blood for twelve years. As the Healer announced good news to the woman, “You are free from your affliction,” bad news came from the house of Jairus, “Your daughter is dead.”

With that, the synagogue leader went into transition mode. Putting his arms around Jairus, he said, “I’m sorry for the loss of your daughter. We need not bother the Healer any more” [my paraphrase of Mark 5:35]. 

Then the Healer, Jesus, said the impossible, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” A more literal translation is, “Don’t be afraid, KEEP ON BELIEVING.” 

It must have been hard for Jairus, and it’s hard for us too. But we must keep on believing. After all, we’ve staked our eternal destiny on His promises. That’s why Hebrews 11 is such a blessing to us. It records men and women who trusted in God’s goodness and faithful promises when, from the human perspective, it seemed like nonsense. 

Nonsense is what the professional mourners thought when Jesus finally arrived at Jairus’ house. After assessing the situation, He announced the girl wasn’t dead, merely sleeping. Nonsense, they thought, so the mocking laughter began. Unlike Jairus, they had no faith in the Healer at all. 

With that, Jesus said, “Tabitha, cumi” [“get up…arise”]. And she did! The impossible wasn’t so impossible after all.  

Faith keeps our eyes on God, not the impossible. Unbelief scoffs at the possible. Christ followers know there is nothing more sure than the Word of the Lord. So whatever it is that you’re facing, “Only believe — KEEP ON BELIEVING.” And if you think you are falling short on persevering faith, remember the prayer of another man who was asked to believe the impossible. He said, “Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!” [Mark 9:24]

But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” Mark 5:36