Robbed in Plain Sight

“While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?’ But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe’” (Mark 5:35-36).

We get crushed when someone else receives the blessing we’ve been praying for. Sometimes we can be happy for them, but many times, in the hard-pressed, heart-wrenching seasons of waiting and hoping for a breakthrough, we feel cheated when someone else gets the blessing that we’ve been hoping for and asking for. We feel robbed.

Jairus has asked Jesus to heal his daughter, and while Jesus is going to Jairus’ house, the unclean woman comes along, and Jesus heals her first.

We can almost feel Jairus’ pain when the people come from his house and tell him that his daughter is dead. Can you just imagine how crushed Jairus’ heart was? He prayed for healing—even asked Jesus before the woman came along—but then his daughter dies before Jesus gets there.

Then we see the insinuation. We can’t tell for sure, but there’s the insinuation that the people who came from Jairus’ house think even less of Jesus now. One man seems quite disgusted and gives a snide remark, telling Jairus not to bother with Him any longer. In other words, they think He’s useless. It’s too late. He gave the blessing to someone else.

When you’re at your breaking point and you’re doing everything you can just to hold it together, it’s not easy seeing someone else receive healing and relief and breakthrough when you’re about to fall apart. Doesn’t it feel like God gave your blessing to someone else? Like it was meant for you, but He gave it away?

Hold on. Don’t give up that prayer; don’t give up your hope.

Jesus says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”

They get to Jairus’ house, and people are already starting the funeral. People are mourning and crying, but Jesus tells them that she is only sleeping. In other words: the story isn’t over. The people laugh at Him, so Jesus tells them to leave. Why? He could perform the miracle right there and show them all, but He makes them leave so that Jairus is focused not on their doubt, but on Him.

Don’t listen to the snide remarks and people who feed you doubt when you’re looking for a miracle. Be careful who you surround yourself with while you’re in a season of waiting. You need people who will speak life and abundance to you and who will help increase your faith rather than cause you to doubt, because Jesus is saying, hold on. I’m not finished yet.

The blessing is coming. Don’t you be afraid—keep the faith.