It Doesn’t Change a Thing
“Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 5:35-36 (NKJV)
Jairus had requested Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter, who was gravely ill. Interrupted on the journey to do so, Jesus stopped to speak with and heal a woman in need. While He was still speaking, some people came from Jairus’ house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
As soon as Jesus heard those words, He said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” The Amplified version says, “Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].”
Jesus says the same thing to us today.
In this world of horrific, disheartening, and unbearable news, don’t you give in to your fear or become converted to other people’s cynicism. Don’t let other people’s devilish deliberations and decisions shape yours. Jesus bids you: “Keep believing in Me.” That’s His way of saying, “This extremely tough intersection you’re in, the awful news you’ve been given, this painful space in life is never worth giving up the rest of your journey. The news you just heard—it doesn’t change a thing.”
Your altered state of living, your understandable anger and angst, your doubts and human suspicions, your regrets and deep-seated pains, your fears and frustrations are all real. I’m not trying to deny those things. But when it comes to your possibility, the changes that are needed, the steps that must be taken, the attitude that will be necessary to steward the next chapters of your lived experience—when you’re walking with Jesus, they don’t change a thing.
God is still able to bring His power to bear on your circumstance and situation. And if you’ll trust Him and believe in Him, He’ll prove to you that it doesn’t matter how deep your condition is. He’ll bring His power to the depth of your condition and turn it around.
God is still going where He intended in your life. The pain you feel, the potential that bids you come closer, the opportunities that are before you—none of it changes with the awful news you are facing today. You need a faith, my brother and sister, that believes that it doesn’t change a thing.
