Sunday, July 16, 2006

Just Believe!

In the face of such tragedy, Jairus’ grieving heart may have questioned the words of the book of Lamentations in the Old Testament, “The Lord is good to those who hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; there may yet be hope.” Did Jairus wonder about the goodness of the Lord? Did he question what kind of hope there could be now that his daughter was dead? Although we cannot say what was in the mind of this grieving father, Jesus could. And the Lord of life ignored the men and their message of mortality. Turning to Jairus, the Savior simply says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Jairus, let your belief push aside the fear. Let your belief settle your nerves. “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
You know the rest of the story. Jesus and Jairus went to the house. You know how they shouldered their way past those who were mourning with their weeping and wailing. You know how they endured laughter and terrible taunts. You know how Jesus took the girl’s lifeless hand and summoned her soul back from the grave. Just believe. Believe that in his wisdom, God knows how much joy and sorrow, how much pleasure and pain, how much prosperity and poverty is proper for each of us. Jairus was to believe as one pastor has said, “that God knows the correct balance of sunshine and storm, the precise mixture of darkness and light we need.” Just believe.