For twelve years she was the joy of their life. It was for twelve years the sparkling eyes and girlish laughter brought sunshine to their home. The baby firsts were celebrated. The childish wonder was captivating and the reality of the future was bright.
Those same twelve years there was a different story for another. One who suffered long. Her physical body was broken. The money was all gone. Great was the despair that she lived. No longer did she enjoy the magical wonder of anticipation or a looking forward to the future. There was just a blurring of troubled days.
The Reality of Heartache and Humility
Jairus met with despair when his daughter contracted a terminal illness. It stripped him of his dignity and pride. Though he had a position as a leader in the synagogue it availed him nothing. Leaving behind his position and taking only his faith in the Son of God he went in search of Jesus.
When Jairus discerned the place where Jesus was nothing deterred him. He went straight to Jesus and fell at his feet. His breaking heart brought humility. Furthermore, Jairus faced a problem he could not fix. In desperation, he came to the only One that could bring the light of joy back into his life.
The truth of the matter is that we will all face heartache. What we do with the heartache will determine the outcome.
The Petition of Faith
With an astonishing amount of faith Jairus placed his petition before the Son of God. He told Jesus his troubles. His daughter was at the point of death. The grief at the circumstance in his life was great. No longer did it matter what others would think. On his knees in humility before Jesus Jairus implored Jesus to come and touch his daughter. His faith was so great that He recognized that just one touch from Jesus and all would be well. With Jesus presence in his home Jairus knew that his daughter would be healed. He knew that she would live.
“And Jesus went with him…”
Mark 5:24
Jesus traveled the road with Jairus in his grief. Jairus journeyed with hope burgeoning within him. On the other hand, the traveling was slow. The timing seemed off. There were just too many people to reach his daughter’s bedside in an expedient fashion.
The throng pushed and shoved. Through it all Jairus stayed by Jesus’ side. He would stay for as long as it took. Because He knew that Jesus was his only hope.
When Poverty Meets Abundance
Yet, to his dismay Jesus stopped and turned around. What was happening? Were his hopes to be dashed again? Would death touch his daughter before the touch of Jesus brought life and health?
There in the middle of his story of grief he discerned the story of another whose dark days were turned to light.
He heard the story from the lips of the woman who had suffered for twelve years. Those same twelve years he had lived with the joy and laughter of his beloved daughter, she had been existing in darkness and despair. Jairus listened as the woman shared her hope for healing by just touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Moreover, he saw with his own eyes the truth of the healing as the woman knelt in humility at the feet of Jesus just as he had done moments before.
This woman knew that she had had no hope but Jesus. In her necessity Jesus became her sufficiency. Her poverty was met with his abundance.
“Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
Mark 4:34
Contrasting Messages
With the words of Jesus to the woman still ringing in his ears another strident voice reached Jairus’ ears. Words that rang the death knell for his daughter as well as for life as he knew it. Moreover, the messenger admonished him not to be a bother Jesus any longer because there was now no hope.
The contrast of these two messages could not be greater. The woman that had suffered for twelve years was now whole. On the other hand, Jairus’, a leader in the synagogue faced a future dark with fear and despair.
Subsequently, Jesus turned back to Jairus and spoke.
“Be not afraid, only believe.”
Mark 5:36
Though the death bell had sounded and others were scornful, Jairus placed his tenuous faith in Jesus. There was a tumult of weeping as they arrived at his home. The scornful derision of the crowd was deafening when Jesus denounced the proclamation of death that surrounded them.
It was only Jairus and his wife, as well as three of Jesus’ disciples that saw how the touch of Jesus brought healing and life to this young girl. Jairus chose to follow the advice of Jesus in the face of his dark reality. With the choice to entrust his story to Jesus, Jairus found that the touch of Jesus could truly bring life from death. It wasn’t the end. It was only the beginning.
Grasping the Reality of Truth
Each one of us live within the reality of our own story. We do not live out the chapters of another’s life. We face the hard. Live with hurt and deal with wounds. Distress comes to all of us whether we are a leader in high position or someone who lives out a nameless existence. Pain knows no discrimination. Heartache will come to us.
The good news is that with Jesus there is no partiality either. His heart of compassion and love is extended to the leader in high position as well as to the one that sits low in despair. When we are faced with our weakness, it is then we can find his strength.
As we humble ourselves before him, he picks us up and walks with us in our grief. There will be smudged pages in our lives. Life will be filled with brick walls of despair and gaping wounds that throb. Yet in those crippling times of life when we reach out to Jesus, He will be there.
How to Find Strength in Your Weakness
When faced with a chapter in your life that leaves you suffering and grieved; remember the Author of life who can bring wholeness and peace. When the strident voice of the enemy tempts you to turn away from Jesus determine to let Jesus fill your story with hope and victory. The difficult reality of life directs us to reflect on these truths. It is our reaction to the hard that will directly determine the outcome. Realize that Jesus can help you live your own life story no matter what you face. He will not leave you alone. He walks with you.
- Come to Jesus in humility.
- Tell him your griefs and sorrows.
- Do not let others deter you.
- Stick close to Jesus, though the answer is long in coming.
- Tell Him all the truth.
- Rely on the constancy of Christ.
- In faith, entrust your story to Jesus.
- Take your fears to Jesus and let him replace them with peace.
- Believe that Jesus can bring life from death.
- Know that your story isn’t over when Jesus walks with you.
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