Fear Not – Only Believe – And you will be made whole
Wow! Words that seem so steep to our minds. To our broken hearts. An uphill mountain to climb with peaks beyond our view. The journey of one father at the feet of Jesus may have seem wasted. It may have even seemed ridiculous to the onlookers.
But in his gentleness, Christ tells him, fear not, believe only, and she will be made whole.
We read that and some of us long to know and own those words. Fear Not. But what does it take to be made whole?
There are two stories intertwined in the latter verses of Luke 8. We will look at the story of a desperate father to save the life of his dying daughter as we continue to learn from the people who sought life at the feet of Jesus.
Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds -almost crushed him. Luke 8:41-42
Immediately after this, a very sick woman touches Jesus’ robe and is healed. Jesus stops to take the time to talk with her before He continues onto Jairus’ house.
The people had heard Jesus was coming, so the crowd was ready when he arrived.
Jairus’ daughter, his only daughter, was near death. He comes and the scene is crazy. There are so many people and yet Jairus falls at his feet and begs Jesus to come with him.
There are so many things we can learn from these two verses about Christ but I want to point out two things we can take a hold of right now.
He is a personal God. Each life matters. No matter how many people are around, He cares for each individual case.
He can handle all that is around Him. The day was crazy. Crowds pushing in on Him and He calmly stops to heal and talk to another woman before continuing to the house of Jairus.
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” (NIV) But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. (KJV) Luke 8: 49-50
I love verse fifty. Fear not! – Believe Only! – And she will be made whole!
First, Christ is telling this father to fear not. When Christ tells us to fear not it is because he is capable of the end result. It may be healing, it may not and while that may seem of no consolation, notice Christ will make her whole. Not just alive, not just well, but whole.
I don’t want us to miss this train of events he is telling this father.
Fear Not – Believe Only – Hope Restored!
In this case, Christ chooses to heal this little girl. He goes into the house with the mother, father, and four of His disciples. He takes the girl by the hand, tells her to rise-up, and restores her spirit to her lifeless body.
Praise the Lord! He has made her whole. He brought hope to a hurting family.
This father, who agonizes over his dying daughter hears in the process of seeking his last bit of hope that she is dead. This was heart-wrenching news and it may appear that all hope was lost.
That moment you hear or see that the life of your loved one is gone. The sinking agonizing feeling is crushing to your soul. For a time, it may seem as if all hope is lost but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Jesus came that it could be different.
He is not saying, “don’t mourn” to this father. He is telling Him to not fear. Us telling that to a friend or loved one may be of no comfort, but Christ, he is the difference maker here.
He tells the father to not fear because He has the power to restore the hope. That train, he can get it moving. He can move us from fear to hope.
Here is the other difference maker. It is the stop in between the fear and the hope. It is the faith to believe that only He can conquer one to restore the other.
What happens at the feet of Jesus here?
He gives this father a life changing opportunity to lay aside his fear, take ahold of his faith, and let Christ restore his hope.
What does that mean for you? What are you facing right now that you so desperately want to hope that there is a way to feel whole again? How has Christ showed up in your fear or are you still holding onto it not quite sure how to Believe Only?
Is your faith hanging in the balance not sure which way it will fall? Do you know the difference maker? Do you believe he can make a difference in YOU?
I would love to continue this conversation. Leave a comment below.
Email me at youresewtrendy@gmail.com, if you want to know more about the life-changing decision to follow Christ, I would love to talk with you.
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Hey Jamie, thanks for featuring my Living With Purpose Series this week! So thankful for you!
FEAR NOT and HOPE. Two of my faves!!! Thanks Jaime for the linkup.
Sometimes the hardest times for me to trust God are when things just stay the same and it seems as if nothing is happening — and I have to remember that God works quietly and often "underground." Can you tell that He's working on building patience in this impatient person?
I just hopped over from Ifeoma's blog Purposeful and Meaningful where she was talking about our miraculous Savior who resurrects the dead as well, Jaime. We need to remember, like you've pointed out that Christ is still a resurrecting God. I've always loved the story of Jairus' daughter, so your focus draws me in immediately. And just like you've said, God has the power to restore hope! Thanks for encouraging us today, my friend!
He has the power! That is so amazing to me and I am grateful that it is outside of myself because His power is something I can rely on especially in those days I feel completely powerless. Isn't it amazing too that just with a touch and a word, He raises the dead. It is beyond comprehension. Absolutely Awesome! Thanks for joining us today, friend!
I love the encouragement and hope you shared! Fear interferes with hope and faith.
Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for sharing this, Jamie. It is so encouraging. Fear has been is a huge thing in my life, but it took me a LONG time to understand that. Blessings!
I'm believing for some impossible things. Always good to hear messages like this.
Great encouragement today, Jaime! It's hard to accept when God doesn't provide the results we've prayed for, isn't it? When He doesn't "part the waters" and "move the mountains" But if we respond in faith, our trust in Him will grow. Have a blessed week!
I so appreciate this place of encouragement!
That really means a lot to me, Elizabeth. Thank you! I am glad you are here! Without all of you this would be a lonely party. You all bless me so much! Have a great week!
Thanks for this. Hope is the one thing I cling to on a daily basis. Sometimes it is the only thing I can cling to. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend.
So glad to be loved by such a personal, loving God. 🙂
I spent some time yesterday with a friend and her husband at a hospice hospital. He was close to going home. I have watched my friend go from fearful to hopeful over the last year because of her relationship with Christ. And her husband, also a dear friend, was alert and FULL of the joy of the Lord. Last night he went to be with the Lord. Of course, there's sadness, but also the GREAT hope of being together again!
That is such a great reminder. We have something to hold onto when all seems lost. It is the hope that we have a future and a future with the Creator of life. A dear lady at our former church is in hospice. She has lived her days well, she is a faithful servant, and a prayer warrior and although she will be dearly missed she will get to soon see her Lord that she has lived her life for. Hope is such a gift God has given us for now and for our eternity. Thanks for joining us and sharing with us, Donna. Your story brings such encouragement!
As I was reading through this, the verse Psalm 34:4 was playing in my mind: "I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears." Though God may not take away your circumstances, we can have confidence that He will restore us and make everything better. By knowing that God is in control gives us peace which transcends all understanding. Thanks for the encouraging post! Will share this!
Jaime, thanks for linking up on Mondays @ Soul Survival. Blessings!
Love this story and this message, Jaime!
Thanks for sharing hope!
Sure do appreciate you~
Melanie