Waiting

How are you at waiting? Are you patient? Are you a toe or finger tapper? Do you keep looking at the time when you are at a red light? I tend to be OK with waiting in general, extra-long waiting room times can push me to my limit.

I was reading in Mark 5 about Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood. I was reminded how much I love the woman’s story, but let’s focus on Jairus for now.

“Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus came there.
Seeing Jesus, he feel at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him,
’My little daughter is dying. Please come and
put your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.’
So Jesus went with him.”
Mark 5:22-24

We cannot overlook the fact that Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue, which meant he was wealthy and had a place of prominence. All the other important synagogue people wouldn’t have been happy about Jairus going to Jesus and Jairus risked a lot going to Him. Jesus, after all, was the One causing all kinds of ruckus and made them angry.

But Jairus was desperate and he loved his daughter. There had to be something that Jairus heard or seen that resonated with him enough to cast aside all restraint to fall at Jesus’ feet and earnestly plead with Him. This is not a description of a nonchalant encounter: “Hey, if you have time, why don’t you stop by.”

Is there something that you are desperate about? Something that will have you falling at the feet of Jesus with hope and faith? You pray, read His Words and believe that He could do it. I have.

Here’s what I picture happened:
Jesus and Jairus are walking together towards Jairus’ house. It is taking forever because there are so many people who are all calling to Jesus and pressing into Him and Jairus fears they may not make it or they may lose each other in the crowd. Just then, Jesus stops to ask the silliest of questions in that moment: “Who touched me?” and the healing of the woman happens.

Have you seen other people’s prayers being answered and miracles taking place? Have you wondered when it will be your turn? And all you can do is wait. or give up. You decide to keep believing, but maybe you hold back a little. I have.

Yes, it is a wondrous miracle and Jairus is overcome with emotion as he hears the tender and loving way Jesus speaks to her. Maybe Jairus does a little toe-tapping. Then a family friend comes to Jairus and tells him there is no point in bringing Jesus because his daughter, the light of his life for 12 years, is dead.

If you’re Jairus, maybe the questions start to swirl through your mind. “What if I came sooner.” “What if it wasn’t so crowded?” “What if Jesus didn’t stop?”

“Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler,
’Don’t be afraid; just believe.’”
Mark 5:36

Have you been there? Sitting with all the questions and what if‘s swirling around like a huge carousal in your mind? I have.

Warren Wiersbe says this: “But Jesus assured him, “Be not afraid, go on believing” (literal translation). In other words, “You had a certain amount of faith when you came to Me, and your faith was helped when you saw what I did for that woman. Don’t quit! Keep on believing!”

Could we do that? Keep believing? I have. I want to.

So they continue their trek to Jairus’ house. Jesus is confident and Jairus is uncertain but hopeful. They see the mourners and all the commotion and Jesus gets a little annoyed. He dismisses the crowd and goes up to the girl’s room.

“He took her by the hand and said to her,
’Talitha koum!’
(which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!')
Immediately the girl stood up and walked around
(she was twelve years old).
At this they were all astonished.”
Mark 5:41&42

Warren Wiersbe adds: “Jesus added, “I say unto thee” (with the emphasis on the I), because it was by His authority that her spirit returned to her body.”

Can we believe that the same authority that Jesus spoke to Jairus’ daughter with can be used for us and our situation? I do. I need to.

Waiting is not fun. Watching other people rejoice while you are still hoping can get long and hard.

I don’t want the world to define God for me. I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.” A.W.Tozer

Can we let God’s Word and the Holy Spirit tell us who God is and NOT circumstances, people or unmet prayers? I try hard.

Both people got their miracle. One over disease and one over death. What about the ones in the crowd that didn’t or by the time they got to where Jesus was, He was gone?

In those two stories, I see a God that is loving, kind, powerful and can swing multiple miracles at one time. Can we trust in that God? That even if we have to wait, maybe a long time. Can we keep believing? Can we have hope and faith? I want to.

I’m praying for both of us to have that faith and to keep believing.
Have a wonderful day!
All My Love ~
xo Jodi

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