Keep the Faith...Remove the Doubters

Keep the Faith…Remove the Doubters

“And without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly SEEK him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

    Hebrews 11:6 (the verse above) is very clear that without faith (believing, having full confidence, and trusting in Jesus) it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.  It is also very clear you must believe that He exists and that when you earnestly seek Him that He WILL reward you.  But the enemy also knows this and he knows that if you have faith regarding what you are hoping for and if you seek after God EARNESTLY (with seriousness) then he loses. 

     The enemy will do everything he can to plant seeds of doubt into your mind to get you to waver in what you believe God for and to quit seeking after Him in the matter.  Many times these seeds of doubt will come in the form of other close family and friends offering suggestions or other alternatives besides trusting in Jesus and standing on God’s Word.  Or they may laugh at you, give you weird looks, or share their opinions when you tell them you are trusting in Jesus and that He is your “Plan A…Plan B…Plan C…Plan D…well, you get the point. 
   

     Are you familiar with the story of Jarius in Mark chapter 5?  I have always read this chapter but I mainly focused on the woman with the issue of blood until a couple of weeks ago…something jumped off the page at me and I wanted to share with you how the enemy attempted to plant seeds of doubt into the mind of Jarius who desperately needed a miracle.  

Jarius was a synagogue ruler that needed a miracle and he knew Jesus could heal, therefore he sought after him.  Once Jarius found Him, he fell at his feet and asked Jesus to come and lay hands on his daughter because she was very ill and dying.  So Jesus went with him.  However, while traveling to Jarius’ house a woman with an issue of blood came up behind him to touch His cloak so that she too could be healed.   

     While Jesus was talking with this woman (and I’m sure Jarius is standing there tapping his foot) some men came from the house of Jarius and said, “Your daughter is dead.  Why bother the teacher anymore?”  (I had never paid attention to the statements from the men until now.  How many times do people come up to you when your only option has been Jesus but your circumstances are either not getting better, not changing, or possibly getting worse and they start offering other “suggestions”…?  This happens to me ALL of the time. I believe the enemy was trying to plant seeds of hopelessness, doubt, fear and confusion into the mind of Jarius so that he would give up on Jesus.  Maybe the enemy was hoping Jarius would say, “Thanks Jesus for trying, but my situation is hopeless and there is not much you can do.”)

     However, in verse 36 Jesus ignored the men and told Jarius, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”  Jesus knew that these men could get Jarius to waver in His faith and if Jarius looked at his facts and believed his circumstances over Jesus’ healing power than Jesus wouldn’t be able to perform a miracle.  When Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid” he was telling Jarius to not look at your facts.  Don’t give into your feelings but just believe.  Believing and trusting Jesus is not based upon our feelings or what our facts are screaming but it is based solely on the Word of God and believing in something without “proof”.  Jesus wanted Jarius to know these important facts of faith.  

The story continues with Jesus not allowing anyone to follow him to Jarius’ home except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  (I believe Jesus might not have wanted anyone who had heard the little girl had died to follow and pollute Jarius’ mind with more seeds of doubt.)  As Jesus arrives to the home there were many people crying and wailing.  Jesus said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing?  The child is not dead but asleep.”  But they laughed at him.  

      After Jesus put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.  He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha kown!” (Which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!).  Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old).  At this they were completely astonished. 

Why did Jesus put everyone out of the house?  Was He mad because they had laughed at Him?  I don’t think so.  As I stated earlier, without faith it is impossible to please God.  Jesus needed to get everyone who “doubted” Him out of the room.  Their doubt could have caused the little girl’s parents to doubt and question if Jesus could do the impossible.  Remember the story about Jesus not being able to perform many miracles in His hometown because of their unbelief?  

Sometimes when we believe and trust in God for our breakthrough, the enemy will use other people (well-meaning and loving people) to speak doubt into our lives by possibly offering other “suggestions”.  They may ask “what are you going to do next?” or “Have you tried this…?”

     Jesus knew that we would face people and situations that would test or come against our faith and I believe that is why this story is so significant to meditate on.  Jesus showed what we should do when this happens.  He first told Jarius to not consider his feelings or look at the facts.  

 Second, He told him to just believe (put your trust, confidence and entire human personality in Jesus and the unseen.)  Thirdly, Jesus didn’t allow those who doubted Him to be around.  There are people that I have had to distance myself from because I didn’t want their words of doubt to plant seeds into my heart and mind.  Do I still love these people?  Of course!  Do I still value our relationship?  Of course!  But I have had to set healthy boundaries by either not spending as much time with them or by simply asking those people to not talk to me about my fertility issues unless it was in support of my decision. 

      It’s not always an easy task to keep believing and not wanting to give up or give in when your circumstances don’t seem to be changing or when other people have suggestions that seem promising; but keep in mind the story of Jarius and what Jesus said…”Don’t be afraid.  Just believe.”  Don't look at your facts (because they change) and don't go by your feelings (faith is not based upon your feelings).  Only believe in Jesus and that all of His promises are YES and AMEN.  

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