Jairus, a man whose daughter was dying, fell on his knees before Jesus begging Jesus to come to his house and heal her. Jesus of course agreed, but as they went He was interrupted by a woman who sought to touch Jesus with her faith —knowing she would be healed.
Jesus stopped to address her touch —and make it known that it was her faith that made her well. Meanwhile, an opposing force of fear came upon Jairus when he was told his daughter was already dead.
—Luke 8:50 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. KJV
What reason did he still have to believe if his daughter was already dead? Except for the fact that he heard Jesus say only believe, he might have become offended and walked away. After all, the women did interrupt Jairus’s time with Jesus.
Jairus had a choice. Either he could let the women's faith encourage him, or he could get offended because while he waited for Jesus to tend to the women, his daughter died.
That is exactly how the enemy works, just as Jesus taught us in Mark 4. Jesus said as soon as you hear the Word, the enemy would come and try and take the Word —your faith from you. Jesus said if you didn't understand this principle you wouldn’t understand anything.
Why did Jesus say that? Because it is a regular occurrence that the enemy would come to discourage us —which means we should expect it. As well we should expect to have to counteract his attempts to steal the Word from us. Jesus told us the mystery so that we could have faith in Him —Mark 4:11-32
Jesus told us all the ways in which the enemy steals the Word from in Mark 4:17-19. In Jarius' case, the enemy used offence. Jairus waited for Jesus so long that it seemed like he missed the opportunity for his daughter to be healed and she died. Things looked bad and like it was hopeless to believe any longer But, that is not what happened because Jairus kept his eyes on Jesus, he heard Jesus say —only believe. Don’t be seized in fear, but only believe and she will be made well.
That is exactly what happened, Jesus journeyed to his Jairus’ house and his daughter was made well. Jesus told her to wake up and she did —Luke 8:41-50
You and I can do the same thing. Just when the enemy seems to have discouraged us to the place of giving up, we can look to Jesus and get encouraged and then as well receive from Him our promise.
Jesus would say to you today, only believe!