A touch that brings wholeness and breaks barriers is part of Jesus’ story. Mark 5 41 Holding her hand, Jesus said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”[1] The scene is powerful. Jairus’ daughter had died, and according to the customs and religious laws of the time, touching a dead body made a …
To get through the storms of life, we must have faith instead of fear. Jesus can get us through any storm. I remember being in a hospital chaplaincy training program when the person I was visiting was dying. His wife handed him a piece of paper with a Bible verse on it. He held on …
Faith amid desperation is the story that unfolds in Mark 5:24-29. We encounter two powerful stories woven together—Jairus’ dying daughter and a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve long years. As Jesus walked through the crowd on His way to Jairus’ home, the suffering woman quietly approached Him from behind. She believed that …
The consequences of worldly decisions eventually catch up with us and can have far-reaching effects. When we are on the wrong path, we often listen to the wrong voices, such as popular culture or friends who are also on the wrong path. Nobody wakes up and says, “I want to head down the wrong road.” …
We need to be seeking Godly advice throughout our lives, especially when we have come to the end of ourselves. When we are children, we learn to ask for help because we don’t know. Children raise their hands in a classroom or bring their questions to an adult. They are curious, and they need help …
The power of prayer has changed the lives of countless people and nations. A young child can begin to pray as the Lord works in his heart. Our understanding grows as we age, but there is no substitute for childlike faith when we pray. Prayer, no matter our age, is a conversation with God. The …
Desperation leads us to Jesus, which many people have experienced. Through desperation, the Lord removes barriers that can often get in our way of seeking Him. As Jesus was ministering, a man driven by desperation sought out Jesus to save his son. John 4:46As Jesus traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had …
Seeking Jesus in our desperation can be a time of spiritual breakthrough in our life. I believe we all experience times of distress in our life to various degrees. The question is, “Will you let the Lord use this desperation to change your life?” After decades of being away from worship, a man I came …
Desperation humbles us. Have you ever experienced the kind of desperation that made you look to God amid struggles? If so, what did the Lord teach you through this? There is something about coming to the end of ourselves which forces us to look to God. I am always amazed as the Lord is so …
Is desperation always bad? Often the Lord uses tough times so that we begin recognizing our sin during desperation. Desperate times bring us to our senses. God uses our desperation to draw us back to Him. The hymn “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton about his desperation. He was the one who was spiritually …