I remember the day my mom died. We all stood around her bed, crying, holding on to her and the precious last few moments we had left with her. I had never been that close to death before. It was the kind of thing that made your legs unsteady, and your heart beat fast. It seemed like time was racing, yet going in slow motion. It is a feeling that was quite unlike any trembling I had ever experienced in my life.
I was afraid of the unknown. I was afraid of losing my mom. I was afraid of dealing what what was coming.
I was afraid.
There is this amazing story in the gospel of Mark 5:21-43. Jesus is met by a synagogue leader named Jairus, who had a daughter who was very sick, and he was desperate, so he found Jesus and asked that He come and lay hands on her so that she would be healed. And Jesus went with him (Mark 5:21-23).
Then, as they are making their way to Jairus’ house, he is met by some people coming from there to let Jairus know that his daughter has died and there is no reason to bother Jesus anymore.
And this is where the story gets so good!
Jesus overheard them and said:
“Don’t be afraid, just believe.”
Can you imagine the feelings Jairus must have had at that moment? Here, he has just been told the devastating news that his daughter has passed, and then Jesus turns to him and says – it’s okay; you don’t have to be afraid (5:36).
What would you do in that situation? I know I would have struggled with that. “What do you mean, ‘don’t be afraid’? How could I not be afraid?”
When we are afraid, as I have been countless times in my life, we are given an invitation from Jesus – it’s to not be fearful of what might come because we have a God who’s in charge.
Whatever comes our way in our ever-changing world, we have an unchanging God.
Do I have that kind of faith? Do I trust that Jesus has my family, my future, my hopes, and my dreams in His care? Do I live in fear of what might come, or do I cling to the promises of God?
Do I JUST believe?
I won’t have the experience that Jairus had to hold his once-dead family member on this side of heaven, but I know that Jesus has healed my mom in the most complete way. She no longer has any cancer, she has no more pain, she is in the presence of the Great Healer who has given Himself for us, so that we can have that same new life in Jesus.
I have to remind myself that when my legs are noodles, and my heart is racing, and I feel like I am going to explode, I can hold on to the gentle yet strong command of Jesus. “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”
Jason Scoles
Communications Pastor
Fearless Family of Churches
