about nothing
Several times in my life I would make much ado about worrying over my cancer diagnosis, my treatments, finding out that the cancer has returned. There is nothing that worry can solve! It is a normal reaction, but at some point it becomes necessary to get on and live your life. I can only do that in Jesus. Jesus saves and He is everything.
I was listening to Pastor Jentezen Franklin’s message in Mark 5:22-43, about a dead girl who was the 12 yr old daughter of Jarius, a synagogue ruler. The story in the Bible portrays Jarius falling at Jesus’ feet pleading earnestly to heal his daughter from dying. As Jarius was leading the way to his house, a multitude of people followed them. A sick woman with a blood issue stopped Jesus and she was divinely healed. But it delayed Jesus’ arrival to Jarius’s house. When they arrived they were met with family and mourners, wailing that the little girl was dead. Jesus saw the commotion of the wailers and told Jarius just to believe. Jesus then allowed a few of his apostles , and the parents to come into the child’s bedroom . Jesus took the little girl’s hand and said the sweetest words, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately, the little girl got up and walked around. Jesus ordered the family not to say anything and to get the child something to eat.
I take away a few points to ponder from this story:
That all the fretting, worrying and crying of the wailers did not heal the little girl of her sickness. It is self defeating, wasting our energy when we could put our energies into positive things such as taking a proactive approach to our health, focusing on others, and connecting to God on a deeper level by praising, praying and reading His Word.
The Waiting Season: It is hard to be in a waiting season with the Lord. But Jesus’ timing is perfect. In the waiting it grows our faith and maturity in the Lord. Jarius had to wait on the Lord when Jesus stopped to heal the woman with the blood disease. The woman with the blood disease waited over 12 years for her healing! And it always impresses me that Jarius waited patiently while Jesus healed the woman. We are asked to have faith in Jesus, to trust and believe in Him! When worrying wants to take over, it becomes a tiresome burden. It just becomes a revolving door. When I lay down my fears and worries at His feet, I feel a huge burden lifted off of me, and a feeling of blessed peace takes over.
Finally, when Jesus healed the little girl, He commanded to give her something to eat. I like to think not only to replenish nourishment but also give a sense of normalcy in getting back into daily activity. It would be wonderful not to worry about the Big “C” always looming in the background and I’ve often bemoaned what does it feel like to feel my normal self again? Maybe I can’t totally go back and feel like my old self again; in hindsight the growth and closer walk with the Lord so enriched my life that I would not trade it for all the riches in the world! I believe Jesus can give us our food of nourishment both physically and spiritually so we can find rest and healing for our bodies and souls. Get used to a better normal with Jesus!
Thank you Lord for hearing my cry, lifting me out of the miry pit and setting me on your rock, guiding me through the dark.
