God's Perfect Timing

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Mark 5:21-43

Crisis: (noun) a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. 

Jairus was in crisis. His daughter was dying. While only a few of us will experience a crisis like Jarirus, all of us will experience a crisis. Crisis brings with it a wave of fear and the rush of action. And you typically do anything you can in the moment to prevent the crisis–but they’re usually outside of your control. You pray, rush to the hospital, or mobilize friends and family to come to your aid. In desperation, Jairus comes to Jesus. He’s heard that Jesus calms storms, casts out demons, and heals the sick. “Maybe Jesus can save her!” Jesus hears of Jairus’ crisis and agrees to go with him.

Delay: (verb) make (someone or something) late or slow. 

On the way to heal Jairus’ daughter, Jesus was delayed by a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years. She hoped to touch the hem of his garment to be healed. But, Jesus stopped the procession and took time to care for a woman who was not in immediate danger. She was not in crisis. A doctor triaging patients in an ER would prioritize a dying child before treating this woman. But, Jesus does the opposite and (in the end) brought joy to those around him, and glory to himself.

Jesus won’t be rushed. He is never in crisis. He is never delayed. He is, however, working out our moments of crisis, and delays, for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28-29). Go to him now and tell him your crisis or chronic situation, and let him work it out in his perfect timing.