An unimaginable scene: Jairus, whose heart is full of anguish for his daughter’s life as he pleads with the Lord to come to his home, has just received the news that she has died. The situation is so hopeless that he is told that Jesus’ help is no longer needed. The Lord sees how the father’s heart is breaking with grief at this moment and encourages him: “Fear not; only believe“ (Mk 5:36).
Interestingly, the Lord Jesus makes a connection between fear and faith here. He practically establishes the following “formula”: much faith – little fear; little faith – much fear.
Warren Wiersbe writes: “Faith leads in the direction of peace and hope, but unbelief leads to unrest and fear.”
The application for us here is, of course, not about saving faith but about practically trusting the Lord in faith. We learn that the more we put our trust in the Lord, the less we fear. The encouragement given to Jairus also applies to our needs: “Jairus, don’t be afraid, just trust me – even when it seems hopeless and when other people have already accepted the situation as final!”
We know from our own life of faith that our trust is not always at the same level. We often resemble Peter, whom the Lord once even calls a man “of little faith” (Mt 14:31) – and sometimes we are even like the disciples as a whole, whom He once diagnosed as having “no faith” (Mk 4:40). In both cases, faith – practical trust – had become weak and fear had increased.
“Fear fears nothing so much as faith.” (unknown)
As far as a practical, lived out faith is concerned, Abraham and Sarah are great role models for us. In a humanly impossible situation (a promised pregnancy at the age of 90), they trusted God. It is said of Abraham that he “was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:21), while it is said of Sarah: “…because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11b).
The trust of these two was based on …
- the fact that God can (is able to) keep His promises,
- the faithfulness of God, who always stands by what He promises.
Their trust in God made them look away from themselves and human impossibility and made them look to God’s promises and His faithfulness.
The following verse from the prophet Isaiah also fits in with this: “He who believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28:16). In other words, those who trust in the Lord do not need to toss and turn from side to side at night. Resting in God: that is the remedy for our fear! George Müller puts it like that: “Faith ends where fear begins. Fear ends where faith begins.”
“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
“Weak faith causes strong fears.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)
The Lord Jesus tells you today: “Don’t be afraid! Even if things look difficult, you can trust me. If you trust my omnipotence and faithfulness, your fear will vanish!”
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