How can Mark 5:36 inspire us to encourage others facing fear and doubt? Setting the Scene Mark 5 records Jesus on His way to Jairus’s house to heal the synagogue leader’s dying daughter. Messengers arrive with grim news: the girl is dead. “But Jesus, overhearing what was spoken, said to the synagogue ruler, ‘Do not fear; only believe.’” (Mark 5:36) The Core Command: “Do not fear; only believe” • Fear and faith cannot comfortably share the same heart; Jesus urges Jairus to evict one and cling to the other. • The verb tenses imply ongoing action: “Stop fearing; keep on believing.” • Because Jesus speaks, His authority guarantees the promise—He is not offering wishful thinking but divine certainty. Practical Ways to Speak Courage into Others • Remind them of Christ’s presence: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). If He’s here, fear has no lasting claim. • Share testimonies of God’s past faithfulness—personal stories turn abstract truth into living proof. • Use Scripture verbally: speak it aloud, text it, write it in cards. The Word itself carries power (Hebrews 4:12). • Replace negative “what-ifs” with God’s “even-ifs”—even if circumstances look hopeless, He reigns. • Offer practical help (meals, childcare, errands); tangible love reinforces spoken encouragement. • Commit to steady presence: sometimes silent companionship outshouts a thousand anxious thoughts. Scriptures That Reinforce the Same Encouragement • Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear, for I am with you… I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” • Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and courageous… the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” • 2 Timothy 1:7 — “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” • Psalm 56:3-4 — “When I am afraid, I will trust in You… In God I trust; I will not be afraid.” • John 14:1 — “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.” A Personal Inventory for the Encourager • Am I daily anchoring my own heart in God’s Word so I can speak from overflow rather than emptiness? • Do my words spotlight Christ’s sufficiency more than human optimism? • Am I modeling the calm confidence I’m urging others to adopt? Fruit We Can Expect When We Obey • Renewed faith in those we encourage—fear loses traction when confronted by truth. • Deepened relationships grounded in shared dependence on the Lord. • Glory to God as His power is displayed in seemingly impossible situations, just as in Jairus’s home when the little girl arose (Mark 5:41-42). |
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