Faith – confidence in God’s help
by Norma Koehne
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Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid, just believe and she will be healed’ (Luke 8:50).
Many of you may be able to empathise with the gut-wrenching heartache of Jairus as he watched his daughter suffering and close to death. As a parent, there is nothing worse than the feeling of helplessness in such a situation. Remember that Jairus did not have the medical care we rely on today.
I have never forgotten waking up at night in Papua New Guinea to hear my three-year-old struggling to breathe with croup and bronchitis. With just a lantern, we got our doktaboi, who managed to get him breathing again after he choked up altogether at one stage. The worst time of my life. Can you imagine how those grieving parents feel in Uvalde, Texas?
Jairus was a man of strong faith, and he believed that Jesus would have compassion and help him. He trusted even when the people told him not to bother Jesus because his daughter had died. They mocked and laughed when Jesus talked about her death as just being asleep. His hand of healing was able to revive her and restore her to her family.
When faced with a similar situation ourselves or in the lives of our loved ones, we have the certain confidence that whatever happens, Jesus will be there with us. His loving hands will never let go of us. And, if we do not recover from illness, his loving hands will lead us through death into eternal life. ‘For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:38,39).
Lord, we trust that you will never leave us, and you will walk beside us every day of our life because your promises have been fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of your Son. Help us walk beside those suffering or grieving and share this confidence with them. Amen.
Norma grew up at Koonibba in SA. She was a teacher at Concordia College in SA and then served in various roles in Papua New Guinea with her husband. Returning to Australia, Norma worked as an International Student Advisor and, after completing a PhD, worked in administration at the University of Divinity. She has been privileged to serve the LCA on the General Church Council, Seminary Council, and as president of Lutheran Women of Victoria and Lutheran Women of Australia. Currently, she is happily retired.
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