Put Out Doubt

Recently, I was reading about Jesus teaching and healing when I noticed something new -- for me anyway. I noticed two things, the first of which I am embarrassed to tell. I did not remember that the story of the woman with the issue of blood is in the middle of a whole different story! That other story is the one about Jairus' daughter. The second thing I noticed was Jesus' intolerance of doubt.

First, Jairus comes to Jesus because his daughter is dying. Then the woman with the issue of blood comes in on the scene. This itself is a magnificently beautiful story of desire, perseverance, and results. Then a servant comes to tell Jairus not to bother the Master, because the maid has died. They think it is too late. Jesus does not think it is too late, for He travels with Jairus to his home. When they get there, Jairus, his wife, Jesus, and some other people (a couple of disciples, I think) go in to where the girl lay. They wail and weep and say she is dead. Jesus says, "She is not dead. She is sleeping." Then somehow they go from mourning to laughing "Him to scorn." Then Jesus "put them out." He put all doubters out of the room. I love that!

My husband's grandmother used to tell of her sister being healed as a child. Someone notified the pastor and the church on a Sunday morning that without a miracle, this child could die. Her condition was grave. Well, I think we would have prayed right then. They did not. The pastor spoke to the congregation and told them to go home and make sure things were right between them and God, to make sure they could pray without hindrance or doubt. He told them if they were not sure they could get a prayer through, for them not to come back that night. They had to have a miracle and they had to remove doubt! They gathered, believed, and she was healed.

When Jesus removed doubt from the room where Jairus' daughter lay, He took her hand and told her to rise. The Healer spoke, and it was done, just like He said.

Wherever you are, whatever your need, whatever your storm, God is bigger. Put out doubt! If you do not feel you can, ask Him to help you. It is okay to say, "Lord I believe, help Thou mine unbelief." When you need an answer, or a divine intervention, you cannot afford doubt. Put it out. Let Him speak.

I once heard a woman (whose last name was Tennyson) share a personal story that included the following statement: Doubt your doubts; and believe your beliefs. But never believe your doubts or doubt your beliefs.

Amen!

Eheyeh: I Am

WOW! I am overwhelmed with His words so clearly spoken to me lately. I have a precious friend fighting cancer. The phrase God has given her for this time is "'I Am' is my healer!" I was praying for her this weekend and looked up "by His stripes we are healed." It is found in Isaiah 53. I was struck with the words "we are healed." You see, this was a prophecy. Jesus had not been physically born into this world yet. However, He is I Am. The original word for this is Eheyeh. The people who lived in Bible days recognized this word as a name for God which meant He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who always has been and always will be. Then when Jesus came and was criticized and questioned. He stated, "Before Abraham was, I Am." I imagine those around Him were shushed. They recognized his words to say He identified Himself as Deity.

He is I Am. He dwells in us. Therefore, we are. We are whatever He says we are. He says "we are healed." If He said it, then it is; because He is I Am.

Blessings