Hope For When Hope Seems Dead

Jairus’s daughter was dying. Aware of Jesus’s reputation for healing, Jairus went to him and asked what any desperate parent would ask. Please come. Help us.

As they traveled to Jairus’s home, they were waylaid by a woman with a debilitating bleeding issue who reached out in faith, touched the hem of Jesus’ robe, and received healing. Jesus, aware of healing power going out from him stopped and engaged her in conversation. This interlude took just enough time that Jairus’s daughter died. Someone came with the news and then this helpful person told Jairus not bother Jesus anymore. The situation was beyond help.

Jesus immediately speaks into Jairus’s dying hope. “Don’t be afraid, just believe and she will be healed.” Then he set off, intent on completing the journey.

The people gathered at the house were wailing and mourning over the girl’s death. They laughed at Jesus when he told them to stop, she was not dead.

Unperturbed, Jesus reached out, took the little girl’s hand and commanded her to get up. Immediately her spirit returned and she got up and ate dinner. (Luke 8:40:56)

This story is one of three resurrection stories in the Gospels. It happened in the midst of doubt, crushed hope, skepticism, and even blatant ridicule.

They laughed at Jesus.

How could they? Jesus’s reputation as a healer was spreading. They might have given him a little respect.

As my indignation over their response rose, I was caught off-guard by the question that floated across my heart. Do I ever do that?

Is there anything in my life I have quit bothering Jesus with, given up for dead that Jesus wants to reach out and bring life to? Have I ever dismissively laughed at the hope he extends? Maybe not out loud, but in my spirit, yes. There is.

What hopes, dreams, relationships, people, or situations have you come to Jesus with, imploring him to come and intervene? Have you felt like, somewhere along the way, death came first and you have given up, believing that they are beyond help?

Maybe you have dreams of finishing your education but someone has told you it’s too late.

Maybe you worked hard for that promotion only to see it go to someone else and defeat wraps your heart up.

Maybe your desire for a spouse or a child has not been fulfilled. Or your marriage is still crumbling.

Maybe you have been praying, but someone you love is still drinking, still addicted, still living apart from Jesus.

Jairus asked Jesus to heal his daughter. On the way to the healing, she died. This is where we find ourselves isn’t it? On the way. Somewhere in between asking Jesus to intervene and the miracle of his answer. We live in the painful reality that sometimes our prayers do not get answered in the way and in the time we desire.

Will we listen to the voice that says give up, it’s beyond help? Do we quit praying, not wanting to “bother” Jesus with it anymore? Do we become like the mourners and guard our hearts against hurt with the armor of skeptical laughter?

Jesus meets us here, like he met Jairus. At the point where our faith might falter in the face of doubt, discouragement, and defeat, Jesus speaks the same hope instilling words to us he spoke to Jairus. Don’t be afraid. Keep believing.

Jesus desires to bring life into our dead hopes, dreams, situations, and circumstances. Click To Tweet

When he told to Jairus to believe, he invited Jairus to actively trust in him. Turn a deaf ear to the skeptics, the ridiculers, and the naysayers and keep walking with him toward an outcome that Jairus could never have imagined. A resurrection. The story tells us that Jairus and his wife were astonished, amazed, taken-aback, floored. Never in a million years did they see that coming.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for.

Jesus is always concerned about growing our faith in the midst of our “on the way.” He wants to bolster our trust to overcome our doubt, birth hope in place of defeat, and build experiences of trust that banish skepticism.

For some of us, our on the way will last longer than it does for others. The answer may be something we can’t even begin to imagine. The invitation is to keep walking with Jesus. Keep listening for him to say don’t be afraid. Believe. Jesus wants to astound you. His answer is coming.