But Jesus ignored their comments and said…”Don’t be afraid.  Just trust me.” —in the presence of the God in whom [Abraham] believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 

All who trust in him will praise him, while liars will be silenced—Then everyone will stand in awe, proclaiming the mighty acts of God, realizing all the amazing things he does. *

———-
Jairus had every reason to fear the worst.  Jesus’ delay in coming to his daughter’s deathbed had seemingly cost him his daughter’s life.  While Jesus had stopped to seek out a hurting woman in the crowd and give her his blessing, Jairus’ own daughter had died.  Messengers urged him not to trouble ‘the Teacher’ further. It was no use.  But Jesus reassured him otherwise: ‘just trust me’, and then shutting out the ridiculing crowd He proceeded to wake up Jairus’ daughter and return her to her overwhelmed parents!

Fear and doubt come naturally, and there are plenty of onlookers ready to confirm our worst fears and commend our reliance on somebody other than Jesus.  Trusting  God doesn’t always look practical or even sensible!  But let’s compare the outcomes.  Jeremiah paints a graphic word picture in Jeremiah 17.

The one who resists reliance on the LORD in favor of trusting human wisdom is rendered as impotent as a stunted desert shrub with no prospects beyond barren wilderness and desolate salt flats!  BUT, the one who turns a deaf ear to the clamor of the crowds and listens for the voice of the Spirit inviting trust and rest is like a tree growing on the river bank whose roots never lack for water, whose leaves never wilt and whose fruit is delicious!

Which will I be?  A withered desert shrub or a well-watered green sapling?!

May God, who sees our hearts, transform our doubts into God-confidence, and our fears into praise, as we follow Jesus’ cue and watch to see what He will do.

-LS

*Mk.5:36 NLT; Rom. 4:17 ESV; Ps.63:11 NLT; Ps.64:9 NLT; Jer.17:5-10