A Command to Believe
In Mark 5:36, we see a pivotal moment in the story of Jairus when Jesus says to him, “Do not be afraid; ONLY BELIEVE.” Before Jairus can even process the words of those who doubted, Jesus gives him a direct and decisive command—there is no alternative, no room for wavering. Jesus essentially tells Jairus, “This is your only option: ONLY BELIEVE.”
Dont Dilute Your Faith with Doubt
Don’t water down your faith with doubt. Just as mixing fear with faith dilutes its strength, allowing doubt to coexist with belief weakens the very foundation of your faith. When we entertain fear and doubt, we compromise the purity and power of our trust in God. Jesus understood this danger, which is why He acted quickly and decisively—He shut out the voices of doubt, the voices aligned with death and fear, the voices unable to see beyond the immediate reality. He removed them from the scene entirely, creating an environment where faith could flourish.
Doubt, Fear and Unbelief are Contagious
We must recognize that doubt, fear, and unbelief are contagious. They can spread like a virus, infecting our hearts and minds and weakening our resolve. It’s vital to assess our surroundings and the people we allow to speak into our lives. If their words, attitudes, or messages are diluting our faith, it may be time to create some distance.
Surround Yourself with Faith-filled People
Surround yourself with people who ONLY BELIEVE. In times of trial, we need to be around those who have unwavering faith, those who refuse to allow doubt to take root. Jesus wasn’t looking for experts with statistics; He was looking for those whose hearts were full of faith and nothing else. These are the people we need in our corner—those who leave no room for anything but belief.
Challenge Question:
- Are there voices in your life that are diluting your faith? How can you begin to distance yourself from those who spread doubt, fear, or unbelief?
- How do you respond when faced with situations that challenge your faith? Are you quick to shut out the voices of doubt, or do you allow them to linger?
- Who are the people in your life who ONLY BELIEVE? How can you intentionally spend more time with them to strengthen your faith?
Let’s Pray
Lord, help us to have the kind of faith that Jesus called Jairus to—faith that is pure and undiluted. Give us the wisdom to shut out the voices of doubt and fear in our lives and to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to ONLY BELIEVE. Strengthen our hearts, Lord, so that we may walk confidently in the promises You have given us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
To learn more on this topic, check out this YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaMLikcR9YvY8Tn58k1rM-2CxmZzJKvOq&si=AWLZTkKqAhHPMZHT
Read: Your West Side Story: https://lisa-schwarz.com/your-west-side-story/
