Wait with Hope in the Lord

Psalm 130, Mark 5:21-43

Psalm 130 gives us a great example of an active hope that waits on the Lord. The psalmist is confident as he waits for the Lord to deliver. While yet in the depths of suffering the psalmist repeatedly asserts that God will save. This waiting may seem forever like the watchman who watches through the dark night for the sun to break and finish his long shift. Why then is there hope in the Lord? The psalmist claims God’s steadfast love and God’s great power to redeem.

In our Mark account we have two stories of healing which show great faith and hope in the Lord. First Jairus comes and asks for healing of his sick daughter. This daughter needs help ASAP, yet Jesus stops to ask who touched his robe.

Another person who has waited years for healing – a woman who has had a flow of blood for twelve years, interrupts. She is considered unclean, yet she has faith that if she just touches his robe she will be healed. She fearfully confesses what she has done to Christ to which he replies, “Your faith has made you well.”

Jarius waits through this delay only to be told his daughter has already died and not to bother the teacher anymore. Yet Jesus tells him not to be afraid, only believe. So Jairus continues his wait, his hope in the Lord and even though Jesus is laughed at when he arrives since it appears too late – Jesus raises his daughter from the dead.

These three examples of waiting with faith: the psalmist, the woman who touched his robe, and Jairus should be examples for us. The woman who tried everything, seen every doctor, and when nothing seemed to work she sought Jesus. Then when Jairus was told his daughter was dead, he didn’t give up but had faith that Jesus could do the impossible.

Sometimes we have long dark nights of waiting when all seems to have failed. Can we claim the words of the psalmist, “Hope in the Lord.” Hope when all seems lost. Hope when the waiting gets long. We can do so claiming God’s steadfast love for us and God’s great power to redeem any situation we may encounter. May we have this faith and wait with hope in the Lord.

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