Jesus and Jairus arrived at the wake to sound of weeping and wailing. And rightly so – Jairus’ daughter was only twelve years old when she was snatched away tragically. Friends and loved-ones were there to console and comfort. Jesus walked into a whirlwind of calamity and devastation and said:
“She’s not dead, she’s just asleep.” (Mark 5:39)
Jesus is the “Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). He can speak to things that are dead and raise them up again – because, to Him, they are just asleep.
Maybe you feel like your hope and faith have died. Perhaps you feel like your future has no pulse or your ministry no longer has a heartbeat. You may feel your promise is lying lifeless. But the same thing Jesus spoke to those heartbroken parents, He is speaking to you: “It’s not dead…just asleep!”
It may have started with a little fever or tummy-ache. “You’ll feel better in the morning,” Jairus told her as he tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead. But in the morning she wasn’t better. We don’t know how much time passed, but at some point, reality sunk in and Jairus realized that his little girl was dying.
Jairus knew what to do! He laced up his sandals, grabbed his staff and went out to find Jesus. When he found Him, Jairus fell to his knees and pleaded for Jesus to come and heal his daughter.
It May Get Worse Before It Gets Better!
Jesus agreed to go. Jairus must have thought, “All is well. Jesus is going to take care of this. The worst is behind us.” But that’s not what happened. In fact, it was going to get worse before it would get better! As they were heading toward the house, Jairus looked ahead and saw one of his servants approaching. From the grim look on the servant’s face, Jairus knew the report before the servant ever opened his mouth – his daughter was dead.
[pullquote]Things sometimes get worse before they get better.[/pullquote]
Have you ever declared your trust in God’s promises only to see things then take a turn for the worse? This is how it can be in our own lives when we take a stand for God. Things sometimes get worse before they get better. It seems counterintuitive. We think that things should immediately begin to look up. But just as in the story of Jairus and his daughter, our situations can go from being “sick” to “dead.”
It is at this point that we, and those around us, typically give up hope. We throw in the towel, assume the end has come, and we are now left to deal with the devastation. But God has other plans!
When things have gone from bad to worse and the future looks grim, just hold on! Don’t be afraid. Don’t give up! Don’t lose your faith. Your situation may have gotten worse since you put it in Jesus’ hands, but hold on to the promises you know to be true. Jesus is on His way. Your miracle is coming.
Just Get Out!
Jesus arrived at the house of Jairus to the sound of great wailing and sorrow. He
asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping?” When He declared, “The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep,” they laughed Him to scorn. Their disbelief was obvious.
What Jesus did next teaches us a great lesson about faith and the miraculous. Jesus told all but the parents to leave. He put them all out! He told all the scoffers, skeptics, and cynics – to get out! He put all the crying, weeping, unbelieving naysayers out of the house!
It’s hard to hear the Word of the Lord when we are surrounded with the voices of skeptics and scoffers. The sound of naysayers can easily drown out the voice of Jesus declaring that our promise, ministry or future is not dead, but only asleep.
Sometimes we just have to say, “Get out!” I’m not advocating being rude or unkind, but there are times when we must rid our lives of the voices that speak doubt and discouragement into our situations. Our faith is too precious a commodity for us to let it be eroded by giving ear to the wrong voices.
[pullquote]So often the most vocal scoffers and skeptics are the ones who had nothing to do with the birth of our promise or ministry.[/pullquote]
Perhaps there was another reason Jesus put out all the people except the parents. Only Jarius and his wife knew first hand the travail and struggle of giving birth to the child that was lying lifeless on the bed. They were the ones who had brought the little girl into the world – not all the scoffers and skeptics who were laughing at the prophetic Words of Jesus.
So often the most vocal scoffers and skeptics are the ones who had nothing to do with the birth of our promise or ministry. Those who have had no vested interest in our purpose or destiny are often the first to voice doubt and unbelief. But remember – they weren’t there when you gave birth to your promise or calling. They weren’t in your prayer closet to hear the sounds of your spiritual travail. They didn’t hear the voice of the Lord that you heard. It’s easy for people to be skeptical of your dreams when they were not around when God spoke them into your life – when they have no investment in your destiny.
There’s about to be an awakening in your life. Jesus is about to breathe His life-giving Spirit back into your destiny, promise or vision. Sometimes you’ve just got to tell the scoffers and skeptics to get out so you can hear the reassuring words of Jesus: “she’s not dead, only asleep!“
~Matthew Ball
