“While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ he said. ‘Don’t bother the teacher anymore.’ Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed’ ” (Luke 8:49-50).

Jairus was a synagogue leader who came to Jesus on behalf of his sick daughter. It would have taken faith for him to approach Jesus with his need. As Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house He was interrupted by a woman who had continual hemorrhaging. She didn’t stop Jesus to engage Him in conversation. She did, though, touch Him in faith. Jesus paused to identify her and commend her for believing that He could heal her.

If I had been in Jairus’ shoes I would have been annoyed at this delay. Jairus had approached Jesus on behalf of his daughter and Jesus was taking His time getting there. That unplanned delay might easily have frustrated Jairus.

Sure enough, the delay meant Jairus’ daughter didn’t make it. She died before Jesus got to her. At that point most of us would have given up. The man who brought the sad news to Jairus thought the same thing and advised Jairus to leave Jesus alone; the cause was lost.

Jesus interrupted the two of them with a statement intended as much for us as for Jairus. “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” All of us are susceptible to fear. Jesus literally said, “Keep on believing.” It took faith for Jairus to approach Jesus with his request. Jesus advised him to not lose that faith, but to keep on believing. Don’t settle for too little and don’t quit too soon.

Did Jesus’ advice work? Absolutely! Jesus took the daughter’s hand, told her to sit up and she was healed. Don’t ever give up on God because He will never give up on any of us. When fear tells us all is lost, let’s keep on believing. Jesus won’t disappoint us. Adversity can be the occasion for us stretching our faith to the next level.