Only Believe

In Mark 5: 22-24 and 35-43, we read the story of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, who publicly came to Jesus in need of a healing for his daughter, who was at the point of death. He didn’t come saying to himself or others, “I hope He can do this.” He came in faith, knowing that if Jesus would only come lay His hands on her, she would be healed and live. If you read verses 25-34, you find that Jesus was diverted temporarily from His destination – Jairus’s house and little girl. As He was finishing up with the woman who had diverted Him with her faith, some came from the ruler’s house and told him to forget about bringing Jesus, for the little girl had died. When Jesus heard what they told him, He didn’t go into any long explanations of what would happen. He merely told Jairus, “only keep on believing.” Did this mean that the little girl hadn’t really died? Not at all. But when he came to Jesus, he had faith to believe Jesus would touch her and heal her. Jesus didn’t want him to let go of that faith because it didn’t happen the way he thought it would. When they arrived at the home, Jesus sent all the doubters away from the house, took the father, mother, and His disciples into the little girl’s room, and spoke life back into her body. She was healed, which is what Jairus had come for.

When we come to the Lord in prayer, do we come with that kind of faith? Do we really believe that what we are asking of Him He will do? If we are honest, I don’t think any of us would say we don’t believe He is able to do what we ask, but how many times do we come and ask with more of the “I hope He will do this” mentality? This isn’t the kind of prayer God calls us to pray in James 5:15, “And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him . . .” We could easily insert, without adding to the Scriptures, the prayer that is of faith will bring provision for those who are without provision, will remind us where we left those keys, will restore loved ones who have wandered from the family and the church, will help us control our tongues, will bring encouragement to those who are disheartened, etc. He is ready to answer the prayer of faith in every situation, if we will only believe.

If we sometimes have a hard time believing that God will – not that He can – answer the prayer we are praying, Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Find a verse in the Bible, or several verses, that pertain to the issue at hand. Speak them out loud concerning that situation. Hear the Word coming from your own mouth. The more you do, the more your faith grows to the place where you believe when you pray that He will do it for you, whatever it is.

Always keep in mind one portion of the story of Jairus, though. When Jesus told him, “only keep on believing,” He was telling him not to be swayed by what he was hearing and even by what he would see when he returned to his house. Jairus kept on believing, at Jesus’ word, and he received what he asked for, just not in the way he had expected it, or in the time frame he expected. This is where the real push comes against our faith and standing strong in what we know God’s Word says – our expectations of how and when God will answer. I encourage you, even as I am spurred on personally in writing this, to check yourselves as you pray, each time you pray. Let the Holy Spirit show you where you are really just hoping. Thank Him for showing you, and let Him help you rise up in faith to believe and keep on believing that, like Hebrews 11:6 says, “God is a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him” (in faith.)

© Copyright 2004 Kay V. Stocking