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Jairus is in a hurry. If you have children, or even if you don’t, you can probably sympathize with his plight. You see, his little daughter is dying. Or, as the Message paraphrase puts it, his “dear daughter is at death’s door” (Mark 5:23).

So you can imagine why he’d be more than a little perturbed when, the Lord tarries on the way to Jairus’ house. “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus suddenly asks the crowd. The disciples, perhaps a bit anxious themselves given the gravity of the situation, reply “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”. Then Jesus proceeds to leisurely engage the woman in conversation. It turns out that she’s suffered from a medical condition for the last twelve years.

“Twelve years?” thinks Jairus, “My daughter is dying! Surely this woman can wait a little longer!”

Then, while Jesus is still talking with the woman, messengers arrive with the most dreaded news imaginable: “Your daughter is dead.”

“Oh Lord, why couldn’t you just have hurried?” Jairus probably cried to himself. From a human perspective, all was lost. But from a heavenly perspective, “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Jesus responded immediately: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)

God’s timing is not ours: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (1 Peter 3:8). But we can be confident that whenever and however God chooses to respond to us, it will be good, just, and to His glory.

If you’ve been patiently praying with seemingly no response, don’t lose heart. Jesus implores us to not be afraid and trust in Him; consider the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18: 1-8; which Jesus told to encourage us that we “should always pray and not give up”.

Be encouraged today that while God’s timing is not ours, because He is always for you, not against you, we will someday, at just the right moment, fully understand His divine timing.

Father God, strengthen my heart today to trust in You even when I can’t see around the next corner. Thank you that You are trustworthy and that Your timing is perfect. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Questions: Do you believe today that God is truly for you and that His timing is perfect? Is there something you need to release to Him with faith today?

About the Author Darren Hewer

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

In the letter to the church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) we discover a people who were poor by the world’s standards and who faced great trouble. They weren’t reprimanded for any shortcomings, but were commended for their rich faith in God.

While still on earth, Jesus warned us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Later, Peter reminded believers that suffering wasn’t unusual, but rather the norm. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

You see, we will face trouble; we will suffer; we will be persecuted for our beliefs.

Therefore, the message to Smyrna is a message to us. When trouble comes, don’t be afraid, be faithful.
•    Don’t be afraid of those who slander you for your poverty, you have riches in Christ.
•    Don’t be afraid of suffering because Jesus is the First and the Last. He is with you.
•    Don’t be afraid of death because Jesus died and came to life again. He has conquered death.

The promise God that gave to the faithful in Smyrna, can be ours as well, if we are faithful. “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Revelation 2:11)

Almighty God, thank you that I have a secure future in You. Help me not to be afraid of suffering or even of death, because I have eternal life in You.

Questions: Why are we surprised at suffering? How has God helped you not to be afraid?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Do you feel isolated? Talk to us.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

Step 3:  Don’t be afraid of accountability

It seems we have come to allow gossip, slander and anger to simply be overlooked and rationalized in our churches. We excuse the fractures among believers by telling ourselves that God is purging our church. We stand up and glibly say, “God is in Control” while heads roll and tears fall and tender spirits get bruised and crushed.  We forget that God gives us a choice in how we deal with matters and that the enemy is alive and well, attempting to influence those choices. We forget that for God to be in control of the moment, the conversation or the situation, we need to say “yes” to Him in allowing His Spirit to work in us and through us.  Psalm 15 depicts the marks of an authentic Christian. It says, “He casts no slur on his fellowman…. but honors those who fear the Lord”.

In any given troubling situation we need to honestly ask ourselves, “Am I making choices that allow God to be in control here or am I taking control?”

Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 tells us to “trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight”.  If your own understanding is resulting in opinions and actions that bring division, be accountable for what is going on in your own heart. God speaks harshly about the one who promotes division (Titus 3:10). If you are prompted to speak to one who is causing division, remember the trademark and go in love and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t be afraid to call or be called to accountability. We can run to God, our help. God is sovereign and He is the great redeemer. No matter how bad a situation is, if He is invited in, at any point, He will come in and redeem the situation, work things out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). He can put a de-railed train back on the tracks.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked (selfish) ways, then I will heal their land.” (their church, their heart)( 2 Chronicles 7:14).

It’s a sure promise!

Questions: Are you making choices that allow God to be in control of your situation or are you taking control? How do you interpret 2 Chronicles 7:14 for your life today?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

“When I am most afraid, I put my trust in you… ” (Psalm 56:3).

With the sun setting beyond a placid lake and the sky softly glowing, we see the silhouette of a tall young man walking hand in hand with his small daughter. It is a painting that some would say perfectly captures the essence of trust: the child is quietly confident in the presence of her protective parent.

Yet the psalmist would tell us that this scene pictures only the early stages of trust. Walking together – with loving parent, friend, spouse…or God – in peaceful times is important and necessary for the process of developing the relationship. But the tough test of trust comes “when we are most afraid.”  In his book Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning writes that the Old Testament patriarch Abraham “models the essence of trust…convinced (emphasis mine) of the reliability of God.” Further he writes, “without exception trust must be purified in the crucible of trial.”

When we have walked hand in hand with the Savior in peaceful times, His presence will then be sure and constant when we are most afraid.

Thank You, loving Father, for those times when we have peacefully walked hand in hand. Thank You for those moments when I have learned to love You. Now, Lord, when times are tough, I want to step up to the next level of trust.

Questions: Have you ever been “most afraid” and how did God help you in that situation? Is there something in your life that you can praise God for?

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Have you wondered what God is doing when you can’t see him? Have you ever felt that He is too busy to answer your cry for help? Have you felt forgotten in this crazy world? We all feel that way at times.

For whatever reason, sometimes, God chooses to be silent. His purpose is not to punish you.  He is not too busy.  Don’t for a second believe the lie that He may have forgotten you.

The silence may be what pushes us to dig deeper, like a growing plant in search of water. It could be that the answers are before our eyes, but we are too human to see what God wants us to see. Maybe we are looking with our eyes instead of our heart. It might not be time for God to reveal what he has for you.

It’s not easy to wait, especially when God is silent, but experience tells us that it will be worth it.  We know that our impatience will only get in the way of what he plans to do with us. We can try to hurry him along, but we’ll only end up feeling frustrated. The truth is that we should only want what he wants for us. True happiness lies in resting in his will, in his hands, on his path, in his time.

So, we wait and believe and trust. In posture of prayerful acceptance we can leave all of our doubts behind.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Dear God, please hold us even closer during the times we wonder what you are up to. We long to feel your presence; to see evidence that you are working even when we cannot see you. We never mean to doubt you, but we get lonely, and sometimes scared, by the happenings in our life. When we feel the most out of control, help us rest in the fact that you are more in control than ever. And rather than worry, we always choose to worship you, because it is impossible to do both at the same time. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Questions: Do you sometimes feel God is too busy for your problems? Who is telling you that God has forgotten you? Why?

About the Author Janet Morris Grimes

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EST.

“They were on their way to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way…those who followed were afraid” (Mark 10:32).

They had heard Jesus teach on the green hillsides, they had eaten the bread and fish He miraculously supplied, they had watched boys, girls, men and women touched by His heavenly healing. They believed Him to be the Savior. They followed Him. And now they were afraid. His words now contained the not-so-good news that following meant far more than food and healing and good feelings. Following this Jesus meant walking with Him all the way to the cross in Jerusalem.

We read in the Bible that at the cross only a few women stayed near their bruised and battered Lord, but Scripture and history confirm that the fearful followers eventually returned. Their fear turned into the deep faith that would move mountains of hate, replacing them with love and joy and promise. They would bravely tell the world that following Jesus brings both earthly peace and eternal life. He transforms fear into faith.

Jesus, I’m often afraid on this path of following You, but I’m so grateful that You gently lead and insistently love me in the midst of both faith and fear. I want to be a faith-full follower. Help my faith to grow.

Questions: How do you handle fear when it seems to take over? How can fear be transformed to faith?

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Are you feeling confused and alone? Not sure what to do or where to turn? Talk to us.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV )

Do you feel alone? Perhaps you have recently moved to a new place and you don’t know anybody. You long for home and friends. I know the feeling.

As I said goodbye to my son and daughter, I assured them that I would be just fine living by myself on a remote school compound in Swaziland while they went exploring South African countries. But as I saw their car disappear around the bend, I suddenly remembered the warning we’d received at the airport: “Because of the increased crime rate, never be alone. Always double lock your doors.” Now here I was alone and very vulnerable. I locked myself into my daughter’s Spartan duplex and climbed under a mosquito net. “I’m thousands of miles from home,” I groaned. “I don’t know anybody in all of Swaziland. Whom can I call in case of an emergency?”

“Me. You can call on me,” I heard as clearly as though the words had been spoken out loud. I grabbed my Bible and began to read comforting words such as these: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

I realized that I was not all alone.  I did have one good Friend in all of Swaziland. Next, a phrase I had read recently popped into my mind: Wherever I am, God is my home address.

Encouraged, I got out of bed, grabbed a little photo album I’d brought with me of my home in Canada and stepped out of the door. As I walked down a dusty road, I saw a woman with a small child playing in front of a house. I greeted her and introduced myself. “Would you like to see where I live?” I asked the astonished woman. She nodded and soon we were getting acquainted. Day after day, as I kept reaching out, I received much kindness and hospitality in return.

When my children returned from their excursion, I had so much to tell them!

“Father, how great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You” (Psalm 31:19).

Questions: What can you do to feel less alone?

About the Author Helen Lescheid

I often wonder how different society would be if teens and young adults had the confidence we can have later in life.  Often the things that are most successful are the times when someone dared to try something just a little different.   Our need for acceptance can become a driving force in our lives.  We desire meaningful relationships and believe that if we blend in we are more likely to find intimacy and love.    I know in my experience, when I have dared to stand out, I am respected for that.   You don’t need to be offensive and brazen to be your unique self.    You just need to figure out who you are and own it.  The world responds to authenticity.  Why do you think we are we so afraid to stand out?

If you have questions, we’d love to hear from you.  Use this form to  be matched with one of our mentors. Mentors are trained volunteers with real life experience.  They can answer questions, point you to other resources or just listen when you have something to say.

Your mentor will email you using our secure system, The Mentor Center (TMC).  TMC ensures your privacy by protecting your information.  If you want to keep talking, just hit reply.  The conversation is free, confidential and non-judgmental.   You can keep talking to your mentor as long as you like and there is never a fee.   If you’re curious, start a conversation.  We’re ready when you are.

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Please open your Bible and read Mark 5:21-34.

Jairus is in a hurry. If you have children, or even if you don’t, you can probably sympathize with his plight. You see, his little daughter is dying. Or, as the Message paraphrase puts it, his “dear daughter is at death’s door.” (Mark 5:23)

So you can imagine why he’d be more than a little perturbed when, the Lord tarries on the way to Jairus’ house. “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus suddenly asks the crowd. The disciples, perhaps a bit anxious themselves given the gravity of the situation, reply “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”. Then Jesus proceeds to leisurely engage the woman in conversation. It turns out that she’s suffered from a medical condition for the last twelve years.

“Twelve years?” thinks Jairus, “My daughter is dying! Surely this woman can wait a little longer!”

Then, while Jesus is still talking with the woman, messengers arrive with the most dreaded news imaginable: “Your daughter is dead.”

“Oh Lord, why couldn’t you just have hurried?” Jairus probably cried to himself. From a human perspective, all was lost. But from a heavenly perspective, “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Jesus responded immediately: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)

God’s timing is not ours: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (1 Peter 3:8). But we can be confident that whenever and however God chooses to respond to us, it will be good, just, and to His glory.

If you’ve been patiently praying with seemingly no response, don’t lose heart. Jesus implores us to not be afraid and trust in Him; consider the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8,  which Jesus told to encourage us that we “should always pray and not give up”.

Be encouraged today that while God’s timing is not ours, because He is always for you, not against you, we will someday, at just the right moment, fully understand His divine timing.

Father God,
Strengthen my heart today to trust in You even when I can’t see around the next corner. Thank you that You are trustworthy and that Your timing is perfect. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Questions: Do you believe today that God is truly for you and that His timing is perfect? Is there something you need to release to Him with faith today?

About Darren Hewer

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Which Wolf are you Feeding?, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EST.

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2).

Do you ever feel like you can’t face another day of challenges? Perhaps it’s time to take a day off and to spend it in quiet refection walking through nature or reading a good book by the fireplace. But what do you do when none of this helps to lift you out of the doldrums? May I suggest something that has helped me to get out of the fog–literally and emotionally?

One night as I driving home the fog was as thick as pea soup. I could not see the road in front of me. I could barely glimpse the dim reflectors marking the lanes of the highway. How was I going to find my way home? By focusing on these “bright spots” in the fog. I inched forward from one reflector to the next. What a relief when, an hour-and-a-half later, I reached the warmth and light of home!

By using the same mind – focusing principle, I’ve learned to let Scripture guide me instead of my moods. I take a portion of Scripture like Isaiah 12—a favorite–– and personalize it. Then I say it out loud.

Today I will give thanks to you, O LORD!

When I feel afraid I will remember, “Surely God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid.”

When I am weak, “The LORD God is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.”

When my resources are gone, “I will draw water from the wells of salvation”.

I’ve discovered there is power in speaking the Word of God out loud. As I recite God’s life-giving words throughout the day, my mood lifts and I receive courage to move forward one step at a time.

Lord Jesus, thank you that I don’t have to navigate this day alone. With your help I will face every challenge and conquer it. For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among us. Amen.

Questions: What is your response when things pile up and you don’t know where to turn? What steps can you take in order to stay focused on God?

About Helen Lescheid
Daily podcast: A second daily devotional, Surviving Your Schedule, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog