Only believe !

I am amazed at our Lord's loving response to suffering. When I read the Bible, I see that nothing moves the heart of God more than the soul that is submerged by suffering.

Suffering is defined as "deep sorrow" or "sadness caused by extreme distress." Isaiah tells us that the Lord Himself knows this heartbreaking emotion: "Despised and forsaken of men, Man of sorrow and accustomed to suffering"(Isaiah 53: 3).

I see a powerful example of God's loving response to suffering in Mark 5, where we read the story of Jesus meeting with Jairus, a leader of the synagogue.

As leader of the synagogue at Capernaum, Jairus was part of a religious system that had rejected Jesus. We do not know what Jairus personally thought of Christ, but we know that He had witnessed His healing power. It is very probably in the synagogue of Jairus that Christ healed a man with a dry hand. And Jairus was probably among the crowd when Jesus chased evil spirits and heard them cry out, "You are the Son of God" (Mark 3:11).

But the suffering struck the home of this responsible. His twelve-year-old daughter is bedridden, sick and about to die (Mark 5:23).

Only suffering brought Jairus to Jesus. The fact is that we serve a Savior who responds with love to each of our wounds, sorrows and sufferings. We all did what Jairus did. In the past, we have forgotten the Lord, we have neglected Him, perhaps even rejected Him. But the question that interests our God most is, "Where are you with Me now ? In your present suffering, will you appeal to Me ?"

Dear saint, Jesus is present with you in your battle. You can approach, touch and experience the resurrection and healing power of Christ, just as Jairus did. He walks beside you in all this and He has a plan to bring you out of death and lead you to life. Do not be afraid - only believe !

David Wilkerson