Don't be afraid, just believe

There are many things in life that are difficult and cause of some fear, anxiety and stress.  Jesus is our solution in all these areas.  This morning I am not trying to be minimize what anyone person maybe going through but to encourage your with the words of Jesus.  Mark 5 shares the story of a synagogue ruler named Jairus who asked Jesus to come to heal his daughter who was sick.  Jesus lived a life of compassion and willingly went with Jairus to his home to bring healing to this child.  On the way there was a woman who had been sick for years and done all the things could have done to get better but continued to get worse.  She had this thought that if I could only get close enough to Jesus and just touch Him I would be healed.  This is just what she did but in order to that she had to push through the crowd and then finally she was close enough and she touched Him and through this act of faith she was healed by the power of Jesus.  This act did not go unnoticed with Jesus and asked who touched Him.  This puzzled the disciples because of the crowd because people were touching Him and coming in contact with Him the whole time.  The touch of this sick woman was different because it was a touch of faith.  She believed that through this act something was going to happen and it did.  There are times we need to press forward until we touch Him in faith.  Well while that was happening Jairus' daughter died.  People were saying why bother Jesus anymore because now there was no hope.  You maybe at a place today that some things have changed and it does not look like there is any hope.  It was at this time that Jesus ignored what they said.  That is interesting in itself.  Jesus does not ignore the problem or situation but the negative attitude that some people will have toward that problem.  It was in that situation that Jesus spoke the words "Don't be afraid, just believe".  Your child did not die but your dream may have died, your hope for a better tomorrow may have died, your healing may seem like it may have died or whatever you are facing may seem hopeless.  Allow the words of Jesus to encourage to continue to trust Him regardless of how things look in the physical world and just believe Jesus in the spirit world and trust Him.  I do not know what Jesus will do but He does respond to faith.  Jesus is a loving compassionate Lord and Savior who longs for us to touch Him in faith.  Do not give up for Jesus rose from the dead and is alive forevermore and there is hope in Jesus.
May God's love and grace be with you.

Pastor John