Miracles

Recently, I've been thinking about miracles. We see them all throughout the scriptures. The Savior performed so many of them! He fed thousands with so little, He gave sight to the blind, He healed the sick, He raised the dead... I often wish I could have been there to see the incredible things He did. It seems that now, we don't notice the miracles anymore. But, they happen. We need them. And the Savior is willing to fill our lives with them.

One of my favorite scripture stories (a certain group of girls would tell you I say that about every scripture story) is in Mark 5:22-42. It is really two stories - or two miracles - combined, and that is why I love it so much. Each time I study it, something new stands out to me. I tried to have a focus with this post, but I found I couldn't talk about just one aspect of this story. So, here are my thoughts on this incredible block of scripture.

Walk with the Savior.
In verse 23, Jairus explains his situation to the Savior. Basically, his daughter is going to die and he has faith that if Christ will lay his hands on her, she will live. And in the next verse, Jesus went with Jairus. I love that it happens right away. Isn't that how the Savior works? When we pray, having faith, and pour out our problems, Christ will be with us right away. However, that doesn't mean that our problems will be fixed right away. Jairus' daughter wasn't healed as soon as he asked the Savior for help. But the Savior was with him as soon as he asked for help.

Along the way, they pass a woman who desires to be healed and has such great faith that all she needs to do is touch Jesus' clothes. Had Jairus' daughter been healed right away, I'm not sure that this would have been able to happen. Often, on our path of sorrow, we will need to watch the Savior heal others first.

Have faith 
I admire the woman's faith. In verse 28 she says "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." Miracles take faith. Faith is action. The woman had to do something in order to be healed. She didn't just hope it would work, she did what she could to make it happen. We must do the same with our miracles. Do your part, and the Lord will take care of the rest.

As soon as the woman touches His clothes, she is healed. The scriptures use the word "straightway." It wasn't years later, it wasn't even moments later. It happened right away, it happened at once. Have faith that your miracles can happen at once, But...

Have patience - "Be not afraid"
Remember that miracles take time. Having faith that our miracles can happen right away is important. But it is just as important to have the patience when they don't happen right away. Jairus had faith that is just as incredible as the woman's faith. He believed that his daughter could still be healed. He had already explained his situation to Jesus. He had already begun the path with the Savior. What amazes me is the fact that he stayed. Jairus didn't leave and think that the woman's miracle was more important. He didn't give up. He still had faith - and patience - that his daughter could be healed. I feel that Jairus' example is more common in my life. Often when I am wanting a miracle, I see it in others first. And what a blessing that is! Because Jairus had faith and patience, he witnessed the savior perform two miracles. When waiting for your miracle to happen - whatever it may be - the Savior gives the best advice: "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36).

"And told him all the truth..."
I mentioned before that all the woman had to do was touch the Savior's clothes and she was healed. She didn't need to talk to Him, she didn't even need to explain to Him what she needed. She had enough faith to simply reach out and she was healed.

The Savior could have kept on going, He could have continued on to heal Jairus' daughter. The woman had been healed, that's what she wanted. But, instead "He looked round about to see her" (verse 32). He sought her out, wanting to help her.  He allowed her to tell her story. He listened. He comforted.

The savior does that with us, too. He doesn't leave us as soon as we are healed. He will stay with us. Often when I pray and tell Him what is going on, I feel him say "What else?" The Savior listens and continues to help even beyond what we imagine.

"Why troublest thou the Master further?"
Over the summer I had the chance to be an EFY counselor. I know I mention it a lot, but it really is an amazing experience. However, it does have plenty of challenges. I had spent the entire summer putting my problems aside and helping the youth. It was incredible to do that. But, eventually everything came crashing down. I was nearing the end of the summer and was so worried about having to face my own trials again. I prayed, expressing this worry to my Heavenly Father, and then opened my scriptures. I read this story, but not all the way through. I stopped in verse 35 when it said "why troublest thou the Master further?" I bawled. I felt as if my problems meant nothing. Nothing could be done for me - there were no miracles that could take place.

The world will tell us this. They will "laugh us to scorn" (verse 40). They will have us believe that there is no hope. But that is not the case. Every little problem we face matters to the Savior. He suffered for every little thing we will ever encounter. There will never come a point when we trouble Him, when He won't be able to help us. If it matters to you, it matters to the Savior. He cares about you so much that "even the very hairs of your head are ALL numbered" (Luke 12:7). He knows you, He knows what you need. He won't give up on you, so NEVER give up on Him.