Faith Over Fear
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36
First, take a moment to read Mark 5:21-43. Jesus encounters people who are suffering from some malady and even death. There’s the woman who suffered hemorrhages for twelve years. She sought advice and healing for many years, and it appeared she’d spent all she had with no diagnosis or cure. Then there was Jairus’ daughter whom many thought to be dead. Jesus overhead what they were talking about, and said, “Do not fear, only believe.” This is indeed a bold statement.
In each of the cases outlined in verses 21-43, Jesus brought healing and physical recovery, but it is important to see that He also relieved them of their fears. These stories are not stories about how faith protects us from suffering. Rather, they are stories of how faith liberates us from the fear that things will never get better.
Who hasn’t found themselves overcome by fear: fear of uncertainty, fear of economic instability, fear of health challenges – fears we harbor for our own well-being or for those we love who are dealing with any of these challenges? How does one avoid having fears about the health of the world: the global impact of the pandemic, climate concerns, injustices, and ravages of the war being waged on Ukraine? There are so many things in this world that are unpredictable, and it is in our human nature to be afraid of things. Fear is a natural human response to different situations that we are put in.
Despite all these fear producing challenges, Jesus’ words to the synagogue leader and the woman touch us too –have faith rather than succumb to fear. Fear should not become a barrier to our approaching God. Jesus’ words call us to name our fears – give them over to God and to hold fast to a faith that believes that God will give us the strength to find a way to get through – to a better outcome.
LORD, help me to live with boldness today, to embrace the faith that You have given me and to let go of the fears that afflict me, In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.