Desperation, What Does It Look Like?

   As I read the narrative in Mark chapter 5, and reflect on the characters in this incident, a troubling thought comes to my mind.

   But first the events that Mark records here; Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people by the sea. All of a sudden a man appears in front of Him, falling down at His feet with a plea to come and heal his daughter, who is at the point of death. Jesus then goes with the man, who is a ruler of the local synagogue, toward his house. While they are on the road, a woman, who has been suffering for twelve very long years with a discharge of blood issue, touches His garment because she felt that even this touch could heal her. As she does this, the touch accomplishes its purpose. The blood stops. Jesus then stops, turns around, and asks who did this to Him. With that question, she falls at His feet and confesses what she had done and the reason for the touch. Jesus commends her faith and sends her on her way.

   Then we come back to the reason for the trip they were on. A little girl was dying and Jesus was answering the plea of Jairus, the ruler. While they were all on the road toward his home, some came from there, telling the synagogue official that there was no use in Jesus coming any farther, the little girl had died. Jesus words to Jairus, "Don't fear, only believe", preceded His telling the crowd to stay put while He, Jairus and three disciples went on to the house. At their arrival, they saw the mourners already there, confirming for everyone what had happened. Jesus then went in, telling all that the girl was only asleep. After being laughed at, Jesus goes into the girl's room, tells her to get up, she does, and He tells the parents to let no one what has happened, but to get the girl something to eat.

   As I look at the story, I see two people sharing the same emotions. Both Jairus, the ruler of the local synagogue, and the woman with the blood issue, share a common depth of feeling. They are desperate, and their faith has brought them to Jesus. How deep was their faith that Jesus could and would perform a miracle for them? Was it just a little more than hope that He could? Perhaps, but they were willing to prostrate themselves at His feet, in front of a crowd of people, to admit that theirs were problems that they could not solve. They were both at the end of their respective ropes, and Jesus was their final hope.

   But just think how their faith was multiplied after Jesus acted on their behalf. Where they may have hoped when they acted, they knew now, and that knowing made all the difference. They would never be the same.

   How often have I stepped out in faith, however small it may have been, and pleaded for Jesus' help and guidance? How desperate have I been in the past for Him to show up? How many times have I done things in my own strength, not even bothering to ask?

   Desperation may look like failure, but it can be the door to real faith, not just hope.

   How desperate am I?