When The Going Gets Tough.

Faith is the currency through which we receive promises in God’s kingdom. Such that when hope gets deferred or delayed, we are encouraged to remain resolute without doubting, till we receive God’s promise.

One of the stories that fascinates me is the story of the woman with the Issue of Blood. But today we will focus on someone else we meet just before her miracle occured; a certain man named Jairus.

Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue and he had a daughter who was at the point of death when in desperation he went to meet Jesus for help. He requested that Jesus should come and lay His hand on his daughter so that she would be healed.

and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

Mark 5:23 (NKJV)

But on the way to Jairus’ house, Jesus had an encounter with a woman who suffered from what Scripture describes as ‘the Issue of Blood’, or perhaps we could say that the woman with the Issue of Blood had an encounter with Jesus – causing a delay on the way. She touched His garment in faith, and was healed instantly.

While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, some people came to tell Jairus that he shouldn’t bother Him (Jesus) again because his daughter was dead. As soon as Jesus heard what was said, He encouraged Jairus not to be afraid but to trust Him.

One of the characteristics of the palm tree is its ability to remain resilient in any type of weather. It can withstand the draught and possesses flexibility to bend in the direction of the wind while remaining adaptable to the situations around it.

Like the palm tree, a hallmark of our Christian faith is ability to remain resilient and resolute in the face of hopelessness, as Jairus did. 

Jairus’ situation literally moved from bad to worse, but he was encouraged by Jesus to hold fast to his convictions and, as such, his daughter was raised from the dead because he believed despite the noise of unbelief around him.

Another example of resilience is Father Abraham. Scripture said he ‘hoped against hope’. We must learn to hope against hope holding on to the confession of our faith because we know who we have believed; God is faithful and He can’t lie.

[19] And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

[20] He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 

[21] and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Romans 4:19-21 (NKJV)

Dearly beloved, I want to encourage you not to lose heart, even if the promise tarries. Know that God has a perfect timing for everything including what you are expecting. Keep on trusting the Lord.

Hold on to the confession of your faith (i.e. the word spoken to you by God for that particular situation) – even when things are going contrary to that word – till you see the manifestation.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.

Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrew 10:23 (NKJV)

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV)

Remember, dear reader: When the going gets tough, hold fast to your confession.