Choose the Right Voice

As Jairus made his way back home with Jesus, something tragic happened. Messengers arrived and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35 NKJV).

I’ve stood in the shoes of Jairus. I remember distinctly the day in 2008 when I heard the unthinkable news that our son Christopher had gone to be with the Lord. He died in an automobile accident. To say that my life changed is an understatement. It almost felt as though my life was over and that my world had ended. I didn’t know how I was going to get through it.

How devastating that must have been for Jairus to hear those words. But let’s not miss the next verse: “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to [Jairus], ‘Do not be afraid; only believe’” (verse 36 NKJV).

Jairus had to choose which voice he was going to listen to. Was he going to listen to the voice of the person who just said that his daughter was dead? Or, was he going to listen to the voice of Jesus, who said, “Don’t be afraid; only believe”?

If you’ve lost a loved one, especially a child, you can get through this by hanging onto Jesus Christ. He’s your only hope at a time like this.

We choose every day what voice we are going to listen to. Will we listen to the voice of God as He speaks to us through Scripture? Or, will we listen to the voice of the culture or even the voice of the Devil, who would say that we’re worthless, that we’re failures, and that our lives aren’t even worth living?

Listen to the voice of God who says, “I love you. I have a plan for you. I have a future for you. Trust Me. Don’t be afraid.”