Just believe

Luke 8:50

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”  NIV

Of course Jairus was worried!  Verse 42 says, “his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.” NIV

Jairus has come to Jesus, thrown himself at the Master’s feet, and begged for help.  As Jesus is on his way to the man’s house, they are met by a member of his household, who tells them that the girl is dead.

It is at that point that Jesus tells Jairus not to be afraid.  He says, “just believe, and she will be healed.”

Just believe.

The rest of the story is a true miracle … Jesus raises the child … it is also complex for those of us reading it in 2010 who have experienced the loss of loved ones.

Why wasn’t our loved one saved?

I don’t have an answer to that question, except for this — as my friend lay dying, she had given up an internal organ, her ability to speak or to breathe on her own and her mobility.  But, she never forsook her Savior.  When she died, she passed into heaven and it is there that she was truly healed.  No more pain, no more suffering – perfect communion with God our Father.

Over the last year, I’ve grown to see the wisdom in the first part of what Jesus tells Jairus … “Just believe.”

Things will not make sense in this world — they can’t — we don’t have the full picture.

God has a plan, His word is true.  And, while my individual circumstances or those of people I love dearly might become quite uncomfortable, even to the point of death, it doesn’t change the basic facts:

• God made the earth and everything in it.
• He made me, He sent his son to die for me and He has a plan for my life.
• His plans for others may or may not meet with my approval, but they don’t have to.
• I am not in charge.

My job is to just believe.

That’s what I’ll think about today.