No matter how much you read the Bible, how often you attend church, and how much time you spend in prayer, most of us will face a time in our lives where we simply don’t know what to believe. When the circumstances of the present cloud our vision, it’s easy to lose sight of the things that we know to be true. If you’re facing a time of uncertainty, don’t feel bad; you’re not alone.
When facing times of immense uncertainty, it’s easy to feel like you just don’t know what to believe. In your mind, you know the Word of God is true. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend reading Scripture, how often you attend church, how connected you are with small groups of other believers in your church, or how much time you spend in prayer, there will be a time in your life where you simply don’t know what to believe.
That doesn’t mean that you don’t trust God. However, all of us face times where our circumstances override our faith, and we’re left in a position where we have to try to figure out where we’re going next. Do I keep trusting? Do I keep believing? Do I keep hoping? When faced with adversity, we have all asked those questions if we’re being honest.
The Bible tells a powerful story about a man who had faith in Christ who was left wondering what he was supposed to believe in the moment. Today, we’re going to take a look at the story of Jairus. He believed in Christ, but when calamity came, he was left reeling. Put yourself in his shoes, and get a better understanding of navigating times of uncertainty.
Jairus, His Daughter, and an Interruption
Mark 5:21-43
Mark 5:22-23 (TPT)
Just then, a man saw that it was Jesus, so he pushed through the crowd and threw himself down at his feet. His name was Jairus, a Jewish official who was in charge of the synagogue. He pleaded with Jesus, saying over and over, “Please come with me! My little daughter is at the point of death, and she’s only twelve years old! Come and lay your hands on her and heal her and she will live!”
This is the only time in Scripture that we read about Jairus. While we don’t know much about him, what we do know is very telling. First of all, he was a Jewish leader who was in charge of the local synagogue. That means that he was taking a huge risk by even coming to Jesus. The religious leaders of the day hated Jesus. Remember, they wound up playing a pivotal role in His crucifixion.
However, Jairus was so desperate that he didn’t care about what anyone else had to say about his coming to Jesus. Obviously, somewhere along the way, he had heard about Jesus’ ability to heal the sick. He knew what he believed in the moment. He believed that if he could just get Jesus to go to his house, his daughter would be healed.
Mark 5:24 (TPT)
Immediately, Jesus went with him, and the huge crowd followed, pressing in on him from all sides.
Again, we’re putting ourselves in Jairus’ shoes today. He had gone to Jesus, at the risk of his public perception and his job and made his plea. Without hesitation, Jesus went with Jairus towards his home. Can you imagine how Jairus felt in that moment? If cellphones were a thing during this time, he would have undoubtedly texted his wife and said, “Don’t worry! I’ve got Jesus and we’re on our way.” In that moment, any fear that Jairus had was whisked away. However, Jairus didn’t know about an interruption that was on the way.
Mark 5:30 (TPT)
Jesus knew at once that someone had touched him, for he felt the power that always surged around him had passed through him for someone to be healed. He turned and spoke to the crowd, saying, “Who touched my clothes?”
The woman who had touched Jesus without anyone knowing was very sick, as well. For 12 years, she had been suffering a bleeding issue related to her menstrual cycle. Under the Jewish law, this meant that she was unclean. Anything she touched was unclean, and the fact that she had just reached out and touched another person was punishable by death!
Much like Jairus, she didn’t care. She believed in Jesus, and took her opportunity. The word “power” that we read in the English was the Greek word “dynamos.” That’s the word that we derived the word “dynamite” from. Jesus felt immense power flow from Him, and He knew that someone had been healed. He stopped to address the crowd. Additionally, over the next few verses, the Bible records a conversation between Jesus and the woman.
This story is an exciting one. A woman who had been suffering for as long as Jairus’ daughter had been alive was miraculously healed. Her life was changed! However, before we get too caught up in being happy about this miracle, we need to remember something: we’re putting ourselves in Jairus’ shoes in this story.
This woman wasn’t part of the plan. Before he had left home for the day, Jairus had probably told his wife, “I’ll grab Jesus and be right back.” There was nothing in there about an interruption. This woman was not invited to be a part of the story. Her name wasn’t even important enough to be recorded in Scripture! Then, the unthinkable happens.
Mark 5:35 (TPT)
And before he had finished speaking, people arrived from Jairus’ house and pushed through the crowd to give Jairus the news: “There’s no need to trouble the master any longer-your daughter has died.”
This unnamed woman and her interruption had ruined everything! If Jesus hadn’t been stopped, Jairus’ daughter would’ve been healed. Now, she was gone. Undoubtedly, Jairus didn’t know what to believe. He had a plan, and that plan had just fallen apart. Without Jairus saying a word to Jesus, Jesus addressed Jairus’ doubt and fear.
Mark 5:36 (TPT)
But Jesus refused to listen to what they were told and said to the Jewish official, “Don’t yield to fear. All you need to do is keep on believing.”
Don’t yield to fear?! How was Jairus supposed to stop yielding to fear?! In an instant, his world had come crashing down. His wife was at home sitting by their daughter’s bedside, and she had died. If Jesus had stuck to the original plan, none of this would have happened. However, Jesus told Jairus to stop being afraid and to keep on believing.
The rest of the chapter tells a powerful story. Jesus proceeded to go on to Jairus’ home, even though his servant had told him that he should leave Jesus alone. Jesus wasn’t offput by the daughter’s death. His plan never changed. His command to Jairus to continue believing was an encouragement. If Jairus believed that Jesus was able to heal, shouldn’t he believe that Jesus was able to handle resurrection. He had done that before.
The first thing that Jesus did when He got to Jairus’ house was powerful. After He told everyone that the little girl was asleep, the mourners mocked Him. He threw them out of the room! He made the decision that the only people who should be there were the parents, Himself, Peter, James, and John.
With a gentle touch of the little girl’s hand, He commanded her to arise. And she did! Jairus had his daughter back, and Christ had proved that Jairus’ faith was in someone who was able to do everything that he needed.
If you don’t know what to believe, just keep on believing what you believed before. God is not changed by your present situation. Instead, He is just as able to do what you had asked Him to do as He was before.
A Closing Prayer:
Father, please, help me to overcome fear and keep on believing. I know that You are not lessened by my situation. In Christ’s name, Amen.