What does "Do not be afraid; only believe" teach about faith in trials? Setting the Scene Mark 5 recounts Jairus, a synagogue leader, pleading with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way, news comes: “Your daughter is dead.” In that crushing moment, Jesus turns to Jairus and says, “But Jesus, overhearing what was spoken, said to the synagogue ruler, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’” (Mark 5:36) The Command Straight From Jesus • It is a direct, present-tense imperative: stop the fear that is already rising and replace it with belief. • “Only” narrows Jairus’ focus to one action—faith—excluding panic, despair, or human calculation. • The words flow from the One who is “the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). His authority makes the command possible. Fear vs. Faith: The Core Issue • Fear looks at circumstances; faith looks at Christ. • Fear imagines the worst; faith rests in God’s unchanging character (Malachi 3:6). • Fear paralyzes; faith obeys (Hebrews 11:8). • The two cannot coexist in the same heart at full strength; one will displace the other. Lessons for Our Trials • Trials expose whether our faith is situational or rooted in God’s Word (Psalm 119:89). • Jesus does not deny the reality of pain or loss; He addresses how we respond to it. • Trust is not passive resignation but an active, ongoing choice to believe God’s promises (Romans 8:28). • Faith invites divine intervention beyond natural possibilities, as seen when Jesus raises the girl (Mark 5:41-42). How to Cultivate “Only Believe” • Anchor in Scripture: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • Pray honestly yet cling to truth (Psalm 56:3-4). • Recall God’s past faithfulness; testimony fuels present trust (1 Samuel 17:37). • Speak faith, not fear: “I believed; therefore I have spoken” (2 Corinthians 4:13). • Fellowship with believers who reinforce confidence in God (Hebrews 10:24-25). Encouraging Examples • Abraham “did not waver in unbelief” though circumstances were impossible (Romans 4:19-21). • Daniel’s friends faced the furnace saying, “Our God... is able to deliver” (Daniel 3:17). • Paul, in prison, declared, “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12). Their stories echo Jesus’ call: “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Living Out the Verse Today • When diagnosis, debt, or disaster strikes, hear Jesus speak the same words to you. • Replace “What if?” with “God is.” Isaiah 41:10 reminds, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” • Choose thanksgiving over anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7). • Expect God’s power; Mark 9:23 assures, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Faith’s Outcome Jairus’ faith led him all the way to his daughter’s bedside, where Jesus restored her life. Our obedience to “only believe” positions us to witness God’s glory in our own trials, proving again that His Word is faithful and true. |
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