While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said.  ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’  Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’” – Mark 5:35-36

 

Of all the things that burden us and weigh on our souls, sickness and suffering in the lives of those we love is likely at the top of the list.  Is there any greater trial than to observe a loved one in pain and yet be entirely helpless to bring them relief and rest?  Though we do all that we can to comfort and console, we reach a point of exhaustion, desperation, and helplessness.  This is exactly the sort of person Jesus encounters in Mark 5.

 

 

Patient endurance is not easy, but many times it is necessary.  If you change jobs every two years, ten times in a row, you do not have twenty years of work experience.  You have two years of work experience in ten different places.  So, make sure that you learn what God intends for you to learn where you are, before you move on.  This is one of Satan’s ploys.  His desire is to keep you reactive to life, accompanied by a shallow faith. 

 

I remember the first time I traveled to Asia and took time to explore one of the many outdoor street markets. Stretching for miles and miles on end, these markets claimed to sell all of the top brands in fashion and accessories at a fraction of the cost. However, upon closer inspection one could quickly tell these were cheap imitations, made to look authentic but lacking all of the traits that made the products worthy of a high sticker price, such as quality of materials or assembly.