IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT
Today I write to the person facing a bad report. I know there will be many of you. I have read the end of your story and I want to reassure you today. It is going to be alright – it was always going to be alright.
One day, not so far from now, you will have the gift of hindsight. I like to call it “the place of the great exhale”. I love hindsight. A Divine and masterfully faithful Hand is etched into every moment, and is so glaringly apparent in hindsight.
What is troublesome is that it is not always so apparent in the moment. Events and experiences make so much more sense when we are looking back on them than they did in their individual case-by-case presentations.
The problem with hindsight is that you have to make it through the seasons first. You have to overcome to be an overcomer. You have to win before you can call yourself a victor.
We all start at Point A – hoping, praying and believing to arrive at Point B. Because Point B is awesome! Point B is our inheritance, our Promised Land, our miracle, our breakthrough.
Point B might be a word like “remission”, or a cleared debt, or a healthy baby, or a reconciled relationship. Point B is the manifestation of the goodness of God in our lives. His promises made tangible – that’s Point B. That’s where we’re going. The place of the great exhale.
If I could stand at the Point B of your life and call back to where you are today, I’d shout,
“It’s awesome over here! Better than you thought it would be! He was faithful! You won!”
That is the absolute truth.
The gap between A and B is the part we don’t like so much – it’s where the challenges lie in wait for us.
Recently I was reading about Jairus, a religious leader, who came to Jesus begging Him to heal his 12-year-old daughter who was on her deathbed. Jesus went immediately with Jairus to his house. We can read ahead to the end of the story and find out that Jarius’ daughter makes it back to full health by a miracle at the Hand of Jesus.
Jairus didn’t have the luxury that we do of flicking to the end of the story in a matter of verses. He had to walk the long journey home to an unknown end.
That journey proved to be devastatingly opposed to what Jairus believed for and what Jesus promised. (Luke 8: 40-42 & 49-56)
The journey, between A (calling on Jesus) and B (receiving the miracle) is so often filled with heartbreak, disappointment, fear and challenge.
While they were on their way “someone came from the house of Jairus. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”” (Luke 8:49)
It is absolutely astounding to me that a full frontal opposing testimony greets Jairus in the very presence of Jesus – the Son of God is saying one thing, an expert is saying another.
Even in the presence of Jesus, Jairus was not immune to taunts and fear.
I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this. You enlist Jesus’ help and things get worse. Surely when God Himself gets involved it should turn around for the better. Right?!
Here is a massive key and an important revelation:
Just because the situation appears to be deteriorating doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t on the case.
He’s still on His way and His promise hasn’t changed.
It is interesting that the bearer of the bad news called Jesus a ‘teacher’. To the members of Jairus’ household Jesus might just have been a teacher; but to Jairus He was Saviour, Lord and Healer.
When you receive an opposing result it may be overtly convincing and delivered by someone who knows first-hand the facts of your situation. But that person may not carry the same revelation of Jesus as you do.
Don’t let your love for Jesus be watered down by any person or report – no matter how persuasive, qualified or accurate the case may be.
I love Jesus’ response to the report, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” (verse 50).
He slams down the ultimate trump card. Jesus will always challenge the counter report with His superior truth. He will do His best to reassure you of His unfailing promise. Then it’s up to you: which report will you believe?
For Jairus, the taunts continued to come, over and over, like waves. The voices echoed on the road, around the house and even in the room, until Jesus expelled them from the presence of the little girl.
It is supremely important to take stock of the voices you have speaking into your life. Jesus kicked out the mourning crowd, the drama, the wailing, and the negativity. He even kicked out nine of His own 12 disciples. Only the child’s parents, Peter, James and John were allowed to stay in the room with Him. Spiritual atmosphere is paramount! Who are your crisis comrades? (More on that in next week’s blog)
To the naysayers, Jesus only allowed one privilege - a holy “Shhhhhh” (verse 52). He told the voices to “STOP”. How glorious! There’s so much bravery and wisdom in that.
Shhh! To the wailers and mourners.
Shhh! To the domineering report.
Shhhhhh!
She is just asleep.
He speaks silence into the cynics and life into the little girl. I imagine the upheaval of death and the flood of Grace taking place in the Heavenlies in that moment – when all Spiritual forces realign at the sound of His voice and the touch of His hand. “Arise little one.” He speaks life, always life.
Then the miracle. They gasp! She breathes, she rises, and she eats. She is a walking, talking miracle. Jairus looks at his living daughter, and exhales. She lives. The journey was worth it. With Jesus, it was always going to be alright.
The only way it could possibly not have been alright, was if Jairus had at some point excused Jesus from the walk home. The same goes for you and for me – as long as Jesus is involved it’s going to be alright.
Regardless of the journey, one day, in the place of your great exhale, if you continue in step with Jesus, you will gratefully and humbly announce, “It was always going to be alright.”
There is no other alternative with Him.
Don’t be afraid, just believe.
