Pastor’s Corner: Desperate times call for desperate measures
Desperation is defined as: ” a state of despair, typically one that results in rash or extreme behavior”. We have all had those times in our lives. Relationships, accidents, medical situations, all can bring us to a place of desperation. I ask you to look with me at two people in scripture who were desperate.
In Mark 5:21 we find a ruler of the Synagogue, named Jairus, who has a daughter at the point of death. He came and fell at Jesus’s feet and begged him to come to his house and heal his daughter. Here is a very high official in the Jewish Religion that is coming and bowing down to Jesus who was hated by most of the Jewish Religious leaders. Jairus was also risking his position as anyone that acknowledged Jesus was to be thrown out of the Synagogue. He risked his job, his position, his livelihood and the reputation of his family. He was desperate. While Jesus and Jairus are on their way to his house, another desperate person shows up.
She is described not by name, but as a woman with an issue of blood. She had this problem for 12 long years, had spent all her money on physicians and only got worse. Also under Jewish Law, a woman with a problem like that was considered unclean. She was not to touch anyone as they would then be considered unclean and wherever she sat or sleeps was considered unclean. After 12 years, no results, no money left and shunned by people as unclean, she was desperate. She pushed through the crowd that surrounded Jesus to just touch the hem of his garment. If she had been recognized, she would have been pointed out as unclean and suffered shame and humiliation. As soon as she touched Jesus garment she felt healing go through her body. Jesus stopped and asked who touched him as he also felt the healing power go out of him. When she reluctantly told him the whole truth, he said “Daughter, your faith has made you well , go in peace and be healed of your affliction”.
Now while Jesus was still speaking, people came from Jairus’s house and said his daughter was dead. But when Jesus heard their words he said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe”. Jesus went to the house and raised the little girl from the dead.
What can we learn from these two desperate people?
First, you may have tried everything else but God / Jesus still has a plan for you and an answer to your problem.
Second, you may have to get out of your comfort zone and take a risk to find God’s answer. Is your reputation, your friends or your position holding you back from risking everything to find God and his plan and His answer for you and your situation?
Third, are you searching out the testimonies of people that have gotten results? Both Jairus and the “woman” must have heard that Jesus was healing people because they both took great risk in coming to Jesus. (He has not changed; He’s still healing people today) Are you willing to seek out ministries that are seeing miracles on a regular basis? (They are out there)
Forth, the answer is in God’s Word and Jesus. Both Jairus and the “woman” could have focused on the bad Dr report, the disappointments of the past, the current symptoms, the sympathy of friends or even Satan’s condemning thoughts, but they didn’t. They choose to press in to find an answer from God.
Jeremiah 29:11 says ” I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Jesus said he came to give us “Abundant Life.”