While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” (Luke 8:49,50 ESV)
We have a new reclining couch. We now have a cushy, comfy, cool place to make the hard labor of watching tv more pleasant. Lean back… sigh with contentment… and watch in physical peace.
When it is time reluctantly to stand up, the process seems simple. Shift weight forward, press the footrest back, make the recliner say, “click,” and stand up! The tricky part is making the recliner say, “click.”
Heel pressure at JUST the right way is necessary. A little to the left or right… a bit too much or not quite enough pushing… the wrong angle of leg pressure… and the ‘click’ won’t happen. And we would be stuck in the chair forever.
We’ve learned to identify the exact action. It is simple, yet difficult.
Just like Jesus’ answer to the ruler’s fear.
Jesus tells the worried man that the answer to fear is belief.
Just believe. That’s all. Simple, right?
But oh so difficult.
It is hard to believe. When our senses and experience and knowledge and habit pull us into the comfortable but dangerous realm of fear, believing the truth of God’s power, attention, and love is difficult.
Yet Jesus answers our fear with instruction to believe, anyway.
It is a choice. It is a reasonable choice, given who God is… but it is a choice that is hard to make sometimes. We do not want to appear foolish or naïve. We do not want to be surprised by the power of troubles. We do not want to have regret after our faith.
The exact and specific and almost narrow point of pressure to defeat fear is belief.
And it is hard to find and use that point of pressure.
God gives an example, though, of how to do it. Another man in similar circumstances, maybe even hearing of Jesus’ instruction to believe in the face of fear said, “Lord I believe… help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
Belief as an answer to fear is best obtained by asking for it. That exact pressure point of belief is best obtained by asking for it. Abandoning fear and resting in belief is best obtained by asking for it.
I am choosing to believe… Jesus, help me squash down my unbelief.
Fear not, because of Jesus’ aid in believing.